Ukraine worries about increased attacks during national holidays
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| Ukraine worries about increased attacks during national holidays |
AP—Kyiv, Ukraine Tuesday’s mood of dread in Ukraine grew as a result of predictions that Russia might try to ruin the nation’s Independence Day holiday and mark the halfway point in the conflict by stepping up its attacks.
The U.S. heightened the concern in a security alert by claiming “evidence indicating Russia is speeding up efforts to launch strikes against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and government sites in the coming days.” It pleaded with Americans to “depart from Ukraine quickly.”
Because of the possibility of missile attacks around Independence Day, which comes on Wednesday this year, and the six-month mark in the conflict, Kyiv municipal authorities prohibited large gatherings in the capital from Monday through Thursday. The occasion honors Ukraine’s victory over the Soviet Union in
Vlad Mudrak, 26, argued in favor of the ban, saying, “We need to be careful since our country is going through a very difficult time.”
Additionally, fear increased following the weekend car bombing outside of Moscow that killed the daughter of a prominent right-wing political theorist in Russia. Russia claimed that Ukraine was responsible for the assault. Despite Ukraine’s denial that it was involved, the tragedy raised concerns of Russian reprisal.
At a memorial service on Tuesday, hundreds of people came up to pay their respects to the bombing victim, Darya Dugina, 29. Darya is the daughter of Alexander Dugin, a writer known as “Putin’s brain” and “Putin’s Rasputin” due to his alleged influence on Russian President Vladimir Putin.