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Only Vladimir Putin and his military commanders know why the attack was launched, but there are three main theories.
Ukraine was hit this morning by a Russian missile attack since the start of the war in February 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said more than 122 Russian missiles and drones hit targets across the country, from Lviv in the east to the capital Kiev and Odesa in the south. This wave of attacks surpassed the previous record set in November last year, when Russia launched 96 missiles across Ukraine.
As a result of Western military support, Ukraine has already been targeted by Russian missiles and drones, as they are said to have shot down 27 drones and 87 missiles.
Russian missiles included Shahed 136 drones (supplied by Iran), ballistic and cruise missiles, and hypersonic missiles that are difficult to shoot down. Although many of the missiles fell on entry into the country, and consequently would not have affected their intended targets, their remnants still cause significant damage.
Zelenskyy announced that the Russians have hit targets including a maternity hospital, schools and residential areas, as well as military facilities. A spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force claimed that he had never seen so many targets hit simultaneously by the Russians.
Why did Russia launch this massive wave of attacks and why now?
Only Vladimir Putin and his military commanders know why the attack was launched, but there are three main theories.
According to the first theory , a year ago Russia targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure in an attempt to destroy the people at the start of the notoriously cold Ukrainian winter.
However, this strategy did not work, and with Ukraine's air defenses improving, it looks like this plan will succeed this year.
Second, this may simply be Russian retribution for the loss of another Russian Navy ship, which Ukrainian Air Force fighter jets targeted a few days ago. Russia has now lost over 20% of its Black Sea fleet and Ukraine has no reliable navy, so Putin has "avenged" the loss of another ship.
According to the third theory, a wave of missile attacks like the one launched by Russia is said to be a major ground offensive.
Although, the Ukrainian offensive stopped in the spring, it seems that Russia is "gathering forces and recovering from the attack". Russian forces have been weakened since the war, so they are unlikely to be prepared to launch an offensive soon.
The latest barrage of missile strikes could signal Russia's intention to maintain the pace of ground attacks over the winter, despite the challenges, to give Putin some much-needed tactical victories in the coming weeks./ From 'Sky News', adapted 'Pamphlet'
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