As Rockets Hit Ukraine, Russia Announces the Ramp of Operations

Russia said on Saturday its forces would step up military operations in Ukraine "in all operational areas" as Moscow's rockets and missiles hit cities in attacks that Kiev says have killed dozens in recent days.

Rockets hit the northeastern town of Chuhuiv in the Kharkiv region overnight, killing three people, including a 70-year-old woman, and wounding three others, regional governor Oleh Synehubov said. "Three people lost their lives, why? For what? Because Putin went crazy?" said 83-year-old Raisa Shapoval, sitting among the ruins of her house. In the south, more than 50 Russian Grad rockets hit the city of Nikopol on the Dnipro River, killing two people found in the rubble, regional governor Valentyn Reznichenko said. Ukraine says at least 40 people have been killed in such attacks on urban areas in the past three days. Russia says it has hit military targets. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu ordered troops to intensify operations to prevent Ukrainian attacks on eastern Ukraine and other Russian-held areas, saying Kiev could hit civilian infrastructure or residents. Shoigu, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, was shown on the Defense Ministry's Zvezda TV channel in military fatigues briefing on the war at a command center and awarding two generals the "Gold Star" medal for heroism. His remarks appeared to be a direct response to Kiev's recent series of successful attacks on 30 Russian logistics and ammunition centers using multiple launch rocket systems supplied by the West. A spokesman for Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on Friday that the strikes had caused damage to Russia's supply lines and significantly reduced Russia's offensive capability.