Russia intensified its two-year campaign against Ukraine on Wednesday when it launched the biggest drone attack against Kyiv since the start of its conflict with Ukraine in 2014.
The Ukrainian military said an attack involving 10 drones was launched from the Ukrainian-controlled city of Severodonetsk, around 80 km (50 miles) east of the rebel-controlled town of Makiivka.
The attack was the latest in a series of unmanned aerial assaults that have taken place over the past few months. According to Ukrainian officials, these aerial attacks have been carried out using sophisticated Russian-made drones, and have targeted critical infrastructure such as airports and industrial sites.
The drones launched in Wednesday’s attack were said to have targeted artillery positions near Severodonetsk. The Ukrainian military said it was able to shoot down three or four of the drones.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense called the attack “a serious violation of the principles of international law and the principles of human safety.”
“From the state of the Other, Ukraine has become and remains a full-fledged party and participant of the conflict,” the ministry said in an official statement.
The attack comes after Kyiv and the separatists accused each other of trying to destabilize the conflict. After the drones were used for the first time in March, the Ukrainian military accused the rebels of using them to target critical infrastructure.
The conflict in eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists has killed more than 13,000 people since it began in 2014. In 2019, the United Nations reported a sharp increase in violence along the line of contact between the two sides and urged both sides to take measures to reduce the risks of escalation.
The latest attack is seen by many as a sign that Russia is not prepared to end its conflict with Ukraine. With tensions between the two countries continuing to rise, it appears Russia is willing to use increasingly sophisticated weapons to pursue its goals in the region.
It remains to be seen what kind of response the international community will take to this latest escalation. It is likely that the Ukrainian government will continue to call for stronger sanctions against Russia in an effort to put an end to the conflict.
The drone attack is sure to further heighten tensions between Ukraine and Russia and could significantly increase the chances of a larger-scale conflict in the region. It is clear that any actions taken by either side to further escalate the situation will have serious implications for the stability of the region and the world at large.