NATO official warns Russia could carry out more large attacks on Ukraine

    Rescue workers clear the rubble at the site of Okhmatdyt children's hospital hit by Russian missiles on Monday, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, July 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

    Russia launched a catastrophic attack targeting several Ukrainian cities on Monday, and a senior NATO official warned that more attacks could occur in connection with this week’s NATO summit.

    “We’ve seen Russia hold back stocks of missiles and drones in order to mount large attacks like this. And I think certainly we should expect to see some of those things timed with the NATO Summit,” a senior NATO official said during Tuesday’s summit.

    Dozens of Ukrainians were killed during the attack in several cities that were targeted, while Ukrainian leaders reiterated its ongoing requests for allies to provide additional air defense systems.

    “It’s a great way, I think, in Russia’s calculus, to draw a split screen between NATO the NATO Summit and Russia continue to give the impression of making progress in Ukraine,” the official added. “So I think we should, we should continue to expect to see large strikes like this, or other events that are headline grabbing.”