In a significant escalation of hostilities, Russia launched an extensive missile and drone attack on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv early Monday, resulting in the deaths of at least nine individuals and injuring 46 others, including five children, according to official reports from Ukraine. As rescue operations continue, authorities have cautioned that the number of casualties could rise.
The assault inflicted severe damage on residential areas throughout Kyiv, with emergency services reporting that at least 15 apartment buildings were either damaged or destroyed. Among the affected structures was a nine-story residential building in the Podilskyi district, where rescue teams are urgently working to extract individuals trapped beneath the debris. In addition to the devastation in the capital, one fatality was confirmed in the Bucha district, located northwest of Kyiv.
The Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged the execution of what it termed a “massive” strike, utilizing long-range missiles and drones. The Ministry asserted that the operation targeted military, energy, and airfield infrastructure within Kyiv and several other regions across Ukraine.
This latest attack follows closely on the heels of another significant Russian strike on Kyiv that resulted in at least 27 fatalities, marking it as one of the year’s deadliest incidents in the city. The continuous bombardment underscores the escalating conflict between the two nations.
Amid these developments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has addressed the ongoing clashes around Kostyantynivka, a strategic town in the Donetsk region. He refuted Russian claims of having captured the town, emphasizing that fighting in the area persists.