In a significant escalation, Russia conducted a substantial missile and drone assault on Kyiv early Monday, resulting in at least nine fatalities and injuries to 46 individuals, including five children, as reported by Ukrainian officials. Rescue operations are ongoing with concerns that the number of casualties may increase.
The attack inflicted extensive damage on residential areas throughout the Ukrainian capital. Emergency services reported that at least 15 apartment buildings suffered damage or were destroyed. Particularly affected was a nine-story residential building in Kyiv’s Podilskyi district, where rescue teams are actively engaged in efforts to extricate individuals trapped beneath the debris.
Additionally, a fatality was reported in the Bucha district, located northwest of Kyiv. In a statement, Russia’s Defense Ministry acknowledged executing what it termed a “massive” operation using long-range missiles and drones. The ministry claimed the attacks were aimed at military, energy, and airfield infrastructure in Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine.
This incident follows closely on the heels of another significant Russian strike that left at least 27 people dead in Kyiv, marking one of the most lethal attacks on the city this year. The situation remains tense as these assaults continue to impact the Ukrainian populace.
Amidst these developments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed ongoing hostilities around the strategically important town of Kostyantynivka in the Donetsk region. He refuted Russian assertions that the town had been seized, underscoring the ongoing nature of the conflict in that area.