Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed increased intensity and frequency of attacks on Ukraine, and started 2024 with a bombardment of the country’s two largest cities, Kyiv and Kharkiv. Tuesday’s shelling and drone attacks lasted more than ninety minutes and resulted in death and destruction, leaving smoldering residential and commercial districts across the two cities and into the suburbs. The aim of the attack was to disrupt civilian infrastructure, and part of that effort, it seems, is attacking car dealerships.
“Putin is ringing in 2024 by launching missiles at Kyiv and around the country as millions of Ukrainians again take shelter in freezing temps,” U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget A. Brink said on Twitter. “Loud explosions in Kyiv this morning. It’s urgent and critical that we support Ukraine now – to stop Putin here.”
The January 2 attack resulted in the destruction of hundreds of cars in the region, including many unsold units sitting on dealer lots. One of four Kyiv-based Citroën dealers suffered structural damage and the loss of nearly all of its automobiles.
“The car dealership suffered damage to the facade and roof, windows were smashed… This is a large car centre that was opened in 2020 and meets all the brand’s standards. It is designed to display seven cars in the showroom. However, there are no plans to close the centre; it will be repaired,” the dealer said in a statement.
The other major dealer attacked was a large-scale Chinese-built EV purveyor called Atlant Motors Energy. This was incorrectly labeled a “Tesla showroom” on Twitter. Tesla does not operate any facilities within the borders of Ukraine. Further down that same street, Volkswagen, Honda, Toyota, Audi, Nissan, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Zeekr, BYD, and Polestar dealers suffered damage from the bombing.
In recent months the major supporters of Ukraine in this war have been reluctant to continue offering military aid. Washington has not yet passed a $61 billion aid package, which Ukrainian and U.S. officials agree could leave the country at the mercy of Putin’s forces. A much smaller $250 million package of weapons and equipment was released to Ukraine forces on December 27.
