Russia conducts massive retaliatory strike on Ukraine--China

MOSCOW/KIEV, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The Russian military carried out a series of missile and drone strikes against Ukrainian military targets, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

According to the ministry, the strike was in retaliation for Ukraine's "attacks against civilian targets on Russian territory." Russia's attacks involved Oreshnik ballistic missiles, Iskander air-launched ballistic missiles, Kinzhal hypersonic air-launched ballistic missiles, Tsirkon cruise missiles, as well as air-, sea-, and ground-based cruise missiles and attack drones. It hit command sites, airbases and defense-industrial enterprises.

The Russian Emergencies Ministry said 21 people died in a Ukrainian drone attack on a college dormitory in the Luhansk region on Friday. Kiev denied responsibility, saying its forces strike only military facilities and objects used for military purposes in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Russia launched 600 drones and 90 missiles in the overnight attack, primarily targeting Kiev, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Telegram post on Sunday.

Ukrainian authorities said four people were killed and at least 83 people were injured in the attack, while residential buildings, shops, educational institutions and medical facilities were damaged. However, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Telegram later that no strikes were planned or carried out against civilian infrastructure.