Russian Missile Strike on Kyiv Was in Response to Ukrainian Attack, Not Zelenskyy’s Words
Ukrainian military experts say Russia‘s missile attack on Kyiv was a reaction to Ukraine’s strike on a Russian fuel facility. They disagree with speculation that the attack was caused by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s harsh words for Vladimir Putin.
On December 19, Zelenskyy called Putin a “dumbass” after he suggested testing a new missile on Kyiv. However, analysts believe this wasn’t the reason for the Russian strike on December 20. Instead, they think Russia was trying to hit Kyiv directly with ballistic missiles.
The KN-23 missile used in the attack is highly accurate and can target specific areas. But, Ukraine has robust air defense systems that could have made a direct hit difficult. In May this year, Russia tried to destroy one of these systems using 16 missiles and other weapons, but they failed.
Experts say that preparing for a combined attack like the one in December would take time. The Russian strike on Kyiv used only ballistic missiles and not cruise missiles or drones. This suggests it was an impulsive decision by Putin rather than a planned attack.
The Russian Ministry of Defense claims the strike was in response to Ukraine’s missile attack on a fuel facility in Russia on December 18. Analysts agree that this is more likely the reason for the Russian response.
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