Russian air strikes targeted Kyiv overnight, causing widespread devastation and casualties, prompting Ukrainian officials to denounce the attacks as acts of terror. The assault marks a troubling escalation in Russia's military strategy.
Tragic Wave of Russian Strikes Hits Kyiv, Leaving Death and Destruction in its Wake
Tragic Wave of Russian Strikes Hits Kyiv, Leaving Death and Destruction in its Wake
Over 15 fatalities and countless injuries reported following one of the most significant attacks on Ukraine's capital since the onset of the full-scale invasion.
At least 15 individuals have lost their lives, with many others injured, as a result of a catastrophic wave of Russian strikes on Kyiv, marking one of the heaviest bombardments since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion over three years ago. Ukrainian officials reported that during a night of terror, 440 drones and 32 missiles were launched at various locations across the nation. In the chaos, Russian air defense successfully intercepted and destroyed 147 Ukrainian drones overnight, according to the defense ministry in Moscow.
The extensive strikes inflicted destruction across 27 districts of Kyiv, with a notable ballistic missile strike hitting a nine-storey apartment block. “Waking up in utter nightmare: people trapped under rubble and full buildings collapsed,” lamented Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko on social media platform X. Rescue teams remained on the scene, racing against time to save those buried under the debris. The city was filled with loud explosions and the sounds of machine gun fire as mobile Ukrainian air defense units attempted to repel incoming drones.
Due to the ongoing attacks, emergency operations were further complicated by air raid sirens, with officials indicating that more drone strikes had also targeted the southern city of Odesa, resulting in one death and at least 10 injuries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed outrage, labeling Russia's attacks as "pure terrorism." He accused President Vladimir Putin of continuing these assaults purely out of an ability to sustain the war, imploring the global community to take a stand against these acts that endanger innocent lives.
As the conflict endures, hope for a diplomatic resolution remains grim, with Kyiv engaging in its own counter-offensive attacks while direct negotiations fail to yield any ceasefire or concrete progress.
