Russia’s overnight drone attack on Kyiv and missile strikes on Odesa do damage. Poland has sent 10 MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, Polish Defense Minister says. Ninety-three per cent of Ukrainians believe that their country will fend off Russia’s aggression.
Russia launches dozens of drones on Kyiv, fires missiles at Odesa overnight
Overnight, on May 8, Russia carried out the largest drone attack on Kyiv so far, the city’s mayor Vitaliy Klychko said. “All drones were shot down. Thanks to the air defenses, there were no fatalities. Five people were injured, they are in fair condition. [The strike] damaged high-rise buildings, kindergartens, and schools,” Klychko said.
Ukraine’s air defenses intercepted all 35 Iranian-made Shahed drones, which came from the Bryansk region of Russia, the Ukrainian Air Force said.
Drone wreckage fell on an apartment building in Vidradne neighborhood and on a runway at the Kyiv International (Zhuliany) airport. An air raid alert lasted for more than 3.5 hours.
Russian strategic bombers launched missiles at Odesa region from around Sevastopol, causing damage to country houses and recreation facilities, head of the joint press center of the Defense Forces of Southern Ukraine, Natalia Humenyuk said.
Russian Kh-22 missiles hit a food warehouse and a recreation facility at the Black Sea coast, igniting a fire. A security guard was killed, and three more people were injured.
Russian forces are increasingly using Soviet-made, decades old missiles, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force Command Colonel Yuriy Ihnat said, commenting on the Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukraine on May 8.
Poland sends 10 MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine, Polish Defense Minister says
Poland has sent 10 MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak told a joint news conference with Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand in Ottawa on May 8.
Blaszczak said he was grateful to Canada’s Defense Minister for building a coalition of nations ready to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
Russia’s war in Ukraine is “far from over”, the Polish Defense Minister said, and the allies must continue to stand united to “stop Putin’s imperial ambitions”.
“If the free world doesn’t stop Putin, Russia will try to invade other countries,” Blaszczak said. “We only try to encourage our partners and allies to support Ukraine,” he added.
Ninety-three per cent of Ukrainians believe Ukraine will win the war
The vast majority of Ukrainians believe that their country will win the war with Russia, a survey conducted by the Razumkov Center finds. The poll took place between March 23 and March 30, and collected responses from 2,017 participants. The study finds no regional differences as a majority of Ukrainians across the country believe that their country will fight back Russia’s attack. Only two per cent of Ukrainians all over the country do not believe Ukraine will win the war against Russia.
Ukraine in Flames, latest episodes
Forced Deportations to Russification: Unpacking Russia’s Genocidal Intent. Ukraine in Flames #423
In this episode of UIF, we discuss the ongoing criminal investigation into whether Russia’s actions in Ukraine amounts to genocide. The Russian Federation’s policy has resulted in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children, as well as a policy that eliminates the Ukrainian language and culture from educational institutions in occupied territories, including the Russification of Ukrainian children by erasing their previous identities and giving them new names. These actions point to a genocidal policy aimed at eradicating Ukrainian identity. Watch UIF 423 to learn how Ukraine is attempting to prove Russia’s intent to commit genocide against the Ukrainian people in a court of law.
Guests:
- Andriy Yakovlev, lawyer, managing partner at Umbrella Law Firm
- Tetyana Pechonchyk, Head of the ZMINA Human Rights Center
The effect of war on the birth rate and demographic situation. Ukraine in Flames #422
Deconstructing Dangerous Myths: Russia’s Manipulation of WWII History. Ukraine in Flames #424
