On Friday morning Russia struck targets in Kiev, Lviv and Lutsk, Ukraine using drones and long-range precision-guided weapons.

The strikes were carried out in retaliation for Ukraine's massive drone attack against Russian nuclear bombers on Sunday.

"The barrage, which included air-, sea-, and land-based missiles as well as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), was a response to recent 'terrorist acts' carried out by Kiev, Russia's Defense Ministry said on Friday," RT said.

The nature of the Ukrainian sites that were hit by Russia included "design bureaus, enterprises involved in production and repair of Ukraine's weapons and military equipment, workshops for the assembly of attack drones, flight training centers as well as warehouses of weapons and military equipment," the Russian Defense ministry statement read. "The goal of the strike was achieved. All designated facilities were hit."

Russia also reported that this was the sixth strike it had carried out against Ukraine since May 31.

Over the last week, Ukraine's defense industry enterprises, military airfields, production, storage and launch sites of drones, arms depots as well as deployment points of Ukrainian military units and foreign mercenaries have also been hit. 

On Thursday Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed President Donald Trump's statement that Moscow will retaliate against Kiev for Sunday's drone strike against Russian nuclear bombers. On Wednesday Trump held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, afterward stating in a social media post that Russia will respond to the attack.