The war in Ukraine entered its 18th month on Friday, with both sides trading accusations of missile attacks.

Russia said it shot down a Ukrainian missile in the city of Taganrog, about 40 kilometers (about 24 miles) east of the border with Ukraine. The Russian Defense Ministry said the missile was part of a “terror attack” by Ukraine.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Danilov blamed Russian air defense systems for the explosion in Taganrog. He said there were no casualties, but that the explosion caused damage to buildings.

Ukrainian forces also claimed to have recaptured a key village in the southeast of the country, but Russian military bloggers said artillery fire had effectively razed the village.

The fighting in eastern Ukraine is intensifying, as both sides probe for weaknesses in the other’s defenses. Russia is trying to hold on to the territory it controls in the four provinces it illegally annexed in September — Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Kherson and Luhansk.

The latest round of missile attacks suggests that the war in Ukraine is entering a new phase, with both sides increasingly targeting each other’s civilian infrastructure. This is a worrying development, as it raises the risk of further civilian casualties.

The outcome of the war in Ukraine is still uncertain, but it is clear that the conflict will have a significant impact on the region for years to come.

Analysts Weigh in on Latest Developments

The latest round of missile attacks between Russia and Ukraine has raised concerns about the potential for further escalation of the conflict.

“This is a worrying development,” said Michael Kofman, a research fellow at the Center for Naval Analyses. “It suggests that both sides are increasingly willing to target each other’s civilian infrastructure, which raises the risk of further civilian casualties.”

Kofman said that the latest attacks could also be a sign that both sides are preparing for a new phase of the war. “It’s possible that both sides are trying to gain an advantage ahead of a potential offensive,” he said.

Other analysts have warned that the latest attacks could also have a negative impact on the global economy. “These attacks are likely to disrupt trade and energy flows, which could have a knock-on effect on the global economy,” said Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group.

The latest developments in the war in Ukraine are a reminder that the conflict is still far from over. Both sides are showing no signs of backing down, and the risk of further escalation remains high.

Source: With Agencies