Eight people are killed as Russian missiles strike a Ukrainian city as the conflict nears a crucial point

At least eight people were killed when three Russian missiles crashed into an eight-story apartment building in the downtown district of Chernihiv, a city in northern Ukraine, on Wednesday, according to local authorities.

Oleksandr Lomako, the interim mayor of the city, said that the morning assault had wounded at least 18 people. Chernihiv, which has a population of around 2,500, is located close to the borders with Belarus and Russia, some 150 kilometers (90 miles) north of the capital, Kyiv.

The most recent Russian bombing occurred as the conflict entered its third year and was on the verge of a potentially crucial turning point, with Ukraine more at the mercy of the larger troops of the Kremlin due to a lack of further military backing from its Western allies.

Russia concentrated on attritional warfare throughout the winter, making no significant advances along the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line. Nonetheless, military experts claim that the Russians have been able to advance steadily because of Ukraine’s lack of soldiers, armored vehicles, and artillery ammunition.

The delay in Washington in approving an assistance package worth around USD 60 billion for Ukraine is a critical factor. On Sunday, House Speaker Mike Johnson said that he will attempt to advance the measure this week.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington-based research group, claims that Ukraine’s need is now urgent.

In a late-Tuesday assessment, the ISW said, “The Russians are breaking out of positional warfare and beginning to restore manoeuvre to the battlefield because of the delays in the provision of US military assistance to Ukraine.”

“Without the swift restoration of US support, Ukraine cannot maintain the current lines, especially in the areas of air defense and artillery, which the US can only deliver quickly and in large quantities,” the statement said.

In preparation for what Kyiv authorities predict might be a big Russian onslaught as early as next month, Ukrainian soldiers are digging in and fortifying their positions.

The goal of Ukraine’s long-range drone and missile attacks beyond Russian lines is to interfere with Moscow’s military apparatus.

A Ukrainian drone was shot down over the Mordovia area, some 350 kilometers (220 miles) east of Moscow, according to a statement released by Russia’s defense ministry on Wednesday. That distance from the Ukrainian border is 700 kilometers (430 miles).

The missiles’ range has been increased by Ukrainian drone engineers, who earlier this month attacked a target around 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) east of Ukraine.