At least 17 people were killed and 44 others injured after Russia launched a large missile and drone attack on Kyiv, according to Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky. The strike, which began after midnight on Wednesday, was among the deadliest in the capital this year and triggered more than an hour of air raid alerts.
Timur Tkachenko, who heads Kyiv’s military administration, said the city was under a major assault, while officials reported damage to residential buildings and warehouses. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said there were concerns that people could still be trapped under rubble after strikes hit the city centre, adding that four of the injured were in serious condition. Ukraine’s military administration said the attack was aimed at civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Ukraine’s air force said Russia fired 24 ballistic missiles and four anti-ship missiles, along with 115 drones. It said air defence systems intercepted 98 of the drones, but did not report intercepting any of the missiles. Zelensky has renewed calls for more US-made Patriot missile interceptors, arguing they could save lives during attacks of this kind.
Russia’s defence ministry said it had struck logistics hubs and supply centres in Kyiv and the surrounding region, claiming they were used to store and distribute weapons and military supplies, including unmanned aerial vehicles. It also said it had hit three cargo vessels near the Black Sea port of Odesa. The latest strike comes amid a recent escalation in attacks on Kyiv, while Ukraine has also stepped up strikes on Russian civilian infrastructure, including power facilities.
In Russia, regional officials said a drone caused a fire at a Wildberries warehouse in the Tula region, leaving one person injured. Ukrainian drones have repeatedly targeted warehouses, including those operated by the company. Separate attacks in Russia over the previous two days killed 12 people and injured 98, according to Russian officials.
Source: bbc.co.uk
