Russia has launched a massive missile attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. This was one of the largest missile strikes on the city since the war began, resulting in at least one death and seven injuries. The attack caused fires and extensive damage to various facilities across the city.
The assault lasted for five hours, beginning at 1:30 AM on Saturday night and continuing until 6:30 AM on Sunday.
Ukrainian officials reported that Russia fired approximately 40 Iskander-M and hypersonic Zircon missiles at Kyiv. Residents heard air raid sirens around 1:30 AM. Initially, the sounds of air defense systems were heard, followed minutes later by a series of powerful explosions that shook the area.
Dozens of missiles struck within less than an hour, shaking homes in Kyiv’s historic center and triggering car alarms on the streets. A second air raid alert sounded at 6:30 AM, coinciding with reports of further attacks.
A fire broke out in a three-story building in the central Shevchenkivskyi district. Rescue workers pulled several trapped individuals to safety alive and recovered one body from the site. Attacks also occurred in four other areas, with reports of fires breaking out in residential buildings, offices, and a student dormitory.
The force of the explosions caused the roof of the ground-level entrance to the Lukianivska metro station to collapse. Residents sheltering inside the station shared video footage of the incident online, and the station was temporarily closed.
Kyiv’s military administration announced via the messaging app Telegram that, according to preliminary information, one person had tragically lost their life. Meanwhile, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that seven people were injured in the attack.
Kyiv’s military stated that the Ukrainian capital was the primary target of the attack, though they managed to shoot down 18 of the missiles. Additionally, they destroyed 108 of the 125 drones launched by Russia.
Russia test-fired a Zircon hypersonic missile in 2022. File photo: Reuters
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Since then, Russian forces have been carrying out drone and missile attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities almost daily.
Emergency service workers were seen extinguishing a fire at an apartment building in western Kyiv that had been hit by a bomb; they were searching through the smoking wreckage.
A resident named Vlad told Reuters that he was in his apartment when the explosion occurred. The force of the blast shattered the balcony door, causing it to fall onto his head. He said, “My grandmother lives with me. She cannot walk. How could I leave her behind and flee?”
Fires also broke out in the Solomianskyi, Desnianskyi, and Dniprovskyi districts following the Russian attacks. Firefighters rushed to those locations as well upon receiving reports of the incidents.
