Russia continued its onslaught of revenge against Ukraine overnight striking a hospital maternity ward.
Drones were used to carry out attacks across the country with the bombardment of the southern port of Odesa killing one.
The fresh fury is the latest promised retaliation for Operation Spider’s Web which heaped international humiliation on Vladimir Putin as his fleet of strategic bombers were destroyed deep inside Russia.
A Kyiv security source said: “There has been a massive (very massive) Russian drone attack on Kyiv [but] our amazing air defence is very hard at work. It is very loud in Kyiv.
“Russia targeted a drone at a maternity hospital in Odesa. Thankfully, it hit an administration building. No one was injured.”
Ukraine has reiterated its plea for military support from its Western allies, especially air defences, as it fears Putin’s brutal bombardment is the start of a full-scale summer assault.
The Kremlin has repeatedly stated it only targets military installations but its early hours strikes make a mockery of that.
Oleh Kiper – the governor of the Odesa region – said an emergency medical building and a maternity ward were targeted.
A 59-year-old man was killed in an attack on a residential area, with patients and staff safely evacuated from the hospital.
The battering of Ukraine is retribution for Kyiv’s covert drone attacks on air bases that were hosting nuclear-capable strategic bombers.
Putin vowed to exact revenge for what the Russian military described as Ukrainian “terrorist acts” when special forces launched a series of coordinated strikes on Russian Air Force long range bombers at five air bases – Belaya, Dyagilevo, Ivanovo Severny, Olenya, and Ukrainka – using drones concealed in and launched from trucks on Russian territory on June 1.
Russian news agency Ria Novosti claimed 102 Ukrainian drones were shot out of the sky over Russian territory. Three were downed over the Moscow region, according to the Russian defence ministry.
Meanwhile, Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte has warned of the threat of Putin and what his bloodthirsty rampage means for Europe.
He said: “Because of Russia, war has returned to Europe. We also face the threat of terrorism and fierce global competition. Russia has teamed up with China, North Korea and Iran. They are expanding their militaries and their capabilities.”
“Putin’s war machine is speeding up, not slowing down. Russia is reconstituting its forces with Chinese technology and producing more weapons faster than we thought.
“In terms of ammunition, Russia produces in three months what the whole of Nato produces in a year. And its defence industrial base is expected to roll out 1,500 tanks, 3,000 armoured vehicles and 200 Iskander missiles this year alone. Russia could be ready to use military force against Nato within five years.”
“China is also modernising and expanding its military at breakneck speed. It already has the world’s largest navy. And its battle force is expected to grow to 435 ships by 2030. China is also building up its nuclear arsenal. And it aims to have more than 1,000 operational nuclear warheads also by 2030.”