Continued Extensive Russian Missile Attacks on Ukraine; Ukraine's 'Advance' in the Kursk Region Continues

On Tuesday, September 6, Ukraine announced that at least five people were killed in various regions of Ukraine on the second day of the most intense Russian missile and drone attacks. In a missile strike on a hotel in central Kryvyi Rih, two people were killed and five injured, while drone attacks on the southeastern city of Zaporizhia resulted in three deaths and four injuries. After Russia targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure with over 200 missiles and drones on Monday, September 5, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on his allies to consider joint air defense operations and equip Ukraine with long-range capabilities. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that it shot down five out of ten missiles and 60 out of 81 Russian drones. The Russian Defense Ministry also stated that a precision strike was carried out against Ukraine overnight. Several Russian bloggers claimed that Moscow's attacks were a 'retaliatory action' against Ukraine's surprise attacks in the western Kursk region. The Kyiv military administration reported that it intercepted all projectiles aimed at targets in the city and contained two small fires caused by debris. Meanwhile, General Syrski, the senior commander of Ukraine, announced that Ukrainian forces continue to advance in the Kursk region of Russia but warned about the presence of Russian forces at the eastern Pokrovsk front, a strategic city with transportation and coal mining centers. He stated that Ukraine has captured 100 settlements in its three-week offensive in the Kursk region, taken 594 Russian soldiers prisoner, and caused the deployment of about 30,000 Russian soldiers to the area. He emphasized that one of the goals of this attack was to divert Russian forces from the Pokrovsk and Khorikhiv areas. On Tuesday, Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), after visiting the Kursk nuclear power plant, stated that the situation is dire and there is a risk of a nuclear incident. He emphasized that the plant is very fragile and lacks a protective dome. Russia claims that this plant has been attacked multiple times this month by Ukrainian forces, who are only 40 kilometers away. Ukraine has not yet responded to this accusation. On Tuesday, the White House condemned the missile attack on Ukraine last weekend, which injured journalists and killed a Reuters safety advisor, in the 'strongest terms' and expressed its 'deepest condolences' to the news agency. On Sunday, September 4, a Russian Iskander ballistic missile hit the 'Sapphire' hotel in Kramatorsk, injuring two Reuters journalists and killing Ryan Evans, the agency's safety advisor. Reuters stated that it cannot independently verify whether this missile was fired by Russia or if the attack on the hotel was intentional. Extensive Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine continue. A widespread drone attack by Ukraine on Russia; Moscow claims: We destroyed 45 drones. Zelensky confirmed Ukraine's military operations on Russian soil. Following Ukraine's attack on 'Kursk', Russia declared a state of emergency in the region.