Russia launched a massive combined missile and drone attack on Kyiv early Sunday, killing at least four people and injuring dozens more in the heaviest assault on the Ukrainian capital in weeks, officials said.
Explosions rocked the city shortly after 1 a.m. local time, following an air force warning that Russia might deploy its hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported two deaths and 56 injuries within the city, with 30 hospitalized. Damage was reported in historic Independence Square, a symbol of Ukrainian resilience.
“It was a terrible night for Kyiv,” Klitschko said on Telegram. “Right now, rescuers are putting out fires and clearing debris.” Residents sought shelter in metro stations, with 62-year-old Nataliia Zvarych describing the terror of huddling underground for hours.
The head of Kyiv’s military administration said over 40 locations were damaged. In the broader Kyiv region, two more people were killed and nine injured, according to regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk.
At dawn, smoke rose from multiple fires across the cityscape. Firefighters battled blazes in damaged buildings as rescue teams evacuated the wounded. Images showed a collapsed facade of a five-story residential block, while officials reported damage to offices, shops, warehouses, and a metro station entrance.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had warned Saturday that Russia was preparing an Oreshnik strike based on intelligence from Ukraine, the U.S., and Europe. Russia has used the Oreshnik—a missile with intercontinental range and nuclear capability—twice before. President Vladimir Putin claims it is impossible to intercept due to speeds exceeding Mach 10. Learn more about the Oreshnik missile system.
Zelenskiy’s warning followed Putin’s order to prepare retaliation for a Ukrainian drone strike on a student dormitory in Russian-occupied Luhansk on Friday. Ukraine denied the accusation, saying it targeted a Russian drone command unit.
Neighboring Poland activated its military aviation during the strikes but detected no airspace violations, the Polish army said. The attack underscores escalating tensions as Russia intensifies strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure. Read more about the war in Ukraine from BBC.
The assault comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict. See Al Jazeera’s coverage of the attack.
Source: ARY News