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Long range Russian missiles have struck the western city of Ivano Frankivsk where smoke was seen rising from the city’s military airport by a Mirror team near the scene
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Ukraine: Missile strike on city of Ivano-Frankivsk
Russian forces ramped up the war on Ukraine this morning with air-strikes on the western city of Ivano Frankivsk.
Long-range missiles slammed into an area close to the city’s military airport before 7am – just two miles from a Daily Mirror team covering the war.
At least two loud explosions pummelled the city’s western suburbs as desperate Russian President Vladimir Putin upped his bid to defeat Ukraine ’s forces.
Smoke rose from the direction of the airport, close to where at least one suspected Russian spy, a woman, has been arrested in recent weeks as she watched the target area.
Throughout the city today air-raid sirens blared during the morning as we were ordered to take cover in basements according to local martial law.
Sirens went off throughout the sub-Carpathian region in the foothills of the Carpathian mountains as terrified locals took to their basements and air-raid shelters to hide from Russia’s missile teams.
It is believed no more bombs were dropped during the morning on Ivano Frankivsk.
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Smoke was seen rising from the scene in Ivano-Frankivsk as missiles hit
Two Ukrainian troops were killed in the Lutsk strikes and six were injured
Lutsk airfield was also hit by long-range missiles as Russia claimed its bombs had “taken out” both airfields in am explosive double-tap.
Two Ukrainian troops were killed in the Lutsk strikes and six were injured.
Claims Ivano Frankivsk’s airport was taken out were denied by the town’s Mayor Ruslan Martskinkiv, who said shortly after the bombings: “This morning in Ivano Frankivsk region was uneasy.
“But now the danger has passed. We should be on high-alert and when you hear the sirens from me or any other official sources, please follow the instructions that are given.
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Mirror defence editor Chris Hughes takes shelter during air raid sirens in Ivano-Frankivsk
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Image:
Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)
“It concerns people who live near strategic objects. As for the explosions this morning. The alarm did not work.
“And we are deciding why this happened. Our services are trying to find out why the sirens did not work.
“Right now there are no casualties and the infrastructure of the airfield is not damaged that much.
“We have to understand that when there is a war in the country none of the cities can guarantee what happens and ensure the city will not be bombarded.
“This is the second explosion in the city since the beginning of the war.
Air raid warnings have been heard in the town, in which people have been taught how to use weapons
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Image:
Bruno Thevenin/SIPA/REX/Shutterstock)
“Any minute there may be danger.
“The aim of the enemy is make people panic and feel scared.”
It was the first time Ivano Frankivsk has been hit since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, now in its third week.
The local airport was bombed in the opening hours of Putin’s now faltering invasion.
Thursday’s fresh long-range bombings mark a reconfiguring of Putin’s war on Ukraine, according to UK military intelligence experts.
One said: “Ivano Frankivsk may be earmarked as a strategically important city for Russian forces as supplies are being brought in from Romania and Slovakia.
People in the town headed to air raid shelters in fear of more attacks
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Image:
Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)
“It is also a demonstration of Putin’s willingness to direct a steadily escalating challenge to NATO by edging closer to member countries.
“This could be a very significant development in the war and a sign the Kremlin is rethinking how to try and beat Ukraine.
“This is a rep-posturing of its war effort.
He went on to appeal to locals not to share information about the attacks on social media, adding: “Don’t help the enemy.”
Elsewhere the capital Kyiv is expected to come under sustained and worsening attacks as Russia’s so-called 40 mile-long “death column” north of the city is now taking up attack positions.
The tanks and other attack vehicles are splitting up and gathering within woodland, having come under devastating attacks from Ukraine’s anti-tank teams, drones and warplanes.
Russia is believed to have lost more than 12,000 troops by week three of the conflict, whilst it is suspected of having killed many more than 2,000 civilians, including women and children.
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