At Least 4 Killed in Russian Drone Attack on Kyiv Region

Facts

• A day after Ukraine launched a drone attack on Crimea, at least four civilians were killed and seven more were injured after Russia launched a drone attack on the city of Rzhyshchiv in the wider Kyiv region in the early hours of Wednesday.¹
• Ukrainian officials also said four civilians were killed and five more were injured in Russian attacks on the Donetsk region in the past day. A missile attack was also reported in Odesa, causing an unspecified number of injuries, as well as in the region of Khmelnytskyi, though officials said missile defenses had repelled the attack there; Russian attacks were also recorded in the regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia on Wednesday.²
• Meanwhile, Chinese leader Xi Jinping concluded his state visit to Russia on Wednesday morning. Before his departure, he held a press conference with Russian Pres. Putin in which Putin welcomed China's proposals for a peace plan for the war in Ukraine, stating it "correlates to the point of view of the Russian Federation." The plan calls for dialogue, respect for all countries’ territorial sovereignty, an end to economic sanctions, as well as avoiding nuclear escalation, but did not suggest that Russia should withdraw its forces from the country.³
• However, US officials again cast doubt on the proposals. US Sec. of State Antony Blinken said: "The world should not be fooled by any tactical move by Russia, supported by China or any other country, to freeze the war on its own terms." National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said: "I don’t think you can reasonably look at China as impartial in any way."³
• In the press conference with Xi, Putin also hit out at a British statement that said they would provide Ukraine with tank shells made with depleted uranium as part of a package sending Challenger 2 tanks. Depleted uranium makes shells denser, hence more adept at piercing tank armor, but has been linked with a host of health problems for both soldiers and the civilian populations where such shells are used.⁴

Sources: ¹UKRINFORM, ²Ukrainska Pravda, ³Guardian (a), and ⁴Guardian (b).

Narratives

• Anti-Russia narrative, as provided by Sky News. Russia and Putin are spreading disinformation about depleted uranium shells. These are standard components in modern militaries and have nothing to do with nuclear weapons or capabilities. The health risks associated with these weapons are low.
• Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by TASS. The UK plan to ship depleted uranium shells risks an escalation of the conflict. These shells have well-documented health repercussions for the local population, and Russia will have to recalculate its approach accordingly. The UK is urged to reconsider its decision.

Predictions