RUSSIA is firing drones packed with shrapnel at Ukraine to kill and maim civilians — and wants to launch 1,000 every day.
President Vladimir Putin has ordered even bigger and more deadly swarms of flying bombs and hypersonic missiles to be launched.
ReutersPutin is firing drones packed with shrapnel at Ukraine to kill and maim civilians and wants to launch 1,000 every day[/caption]
AlamyA fire following a Russian attack in Kyiv region[/caption]
AlamyRussia is launching the drones in a deadly new development in the war[/caption]
It follows US President Donald Trump’s decision to supply weapons — expected to be defensive and offensive — via Nato to Ukraine to punish Putin for shunning peace moves since the start of the year.
Trump said he would be making a “major statement” about Russia on Monday.
Russia has been cranking up attacks for weeks and, on Wednesday, 741 drones and missiles were launched.
It was the biggest single attack of the 40-month war and 400 were fired next day.
Ukrainians emerging from shelters have been horrified to find tungsten or steel ball bearings, nails, screws and metal fragments littering the strike sites.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief aide Andrii Yermak warned: “Russia is using drones with an enhanced warhead weighing up to 90kg with metal shrapnel to increase the number of civilian casualties.
“These criminals and terrorists must take responsibility for this, and they will.”
Putin has ordered regular 1,000-strong drone blitzes by the end of the year to try to wear down Ukraine’s air defences.
Russian factories are adapting and improving drones supplied by Iran.
Its other allies — North Korea and China — provide electronics for the devices.
Trump, meanwhile, accused Putin of throwing “bulls***” at the US.
He said: “He is very nice all the time but it turns out to be meaningless.”
Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte said: “Russia’s continued massive attacks against Ukrainian civilians are deplorable.
“I’ve spoken with President Trump and am working closely with allies to get Ukraine the help they need.”
AlamySome of the devastation caused by the new wave of Russian attacks on Kyiv[/caption]
SplashUS President Donald Trump has slammed Putin for talking ‘bull****’[/caption]