A Russian missile strike on Friday morning killed at least one person and caused significant damage to buildings in central Kyiv, Ukrainian officials reported. The attack occurred during the city’s rush hour, triggering explosions and fires.
Residents in Kyiv’s center reported loud blasts, and images from the scene revealed a destroyed office building with shattered windows. Firefighters were seen extinguishing a blaze after a car was severely damaged on the street below.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed one fatality, while the city’s military administration reported that 11 people were injured, five of whom required hospitalization.
Russian forces, engaged in a full-scale invasion of Ukraine since February 2022, launched eight missiles, including hypersonic Kinzhal and Iskander/KN-23 ballistic missiles, according to Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s military administration. Ukraine’s air force claimed it intercepted all five Iskander-M/KN-23 missiles targeting the capital.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated the strike aimed at a command center used by Ukraine’s SBU intelligence agency, alleging the facility was involved in missile development and housed a U.S.-made Patriot anti-aircraft system. “The goals of the strike have been achieved. All targets have been hit,” the ministry claimed.
Independent verification of these claims by either side remains unavailable.
The assault is part of a series of Russian airstrikes targeting Kyiv and other critical locations, with a focus on energy infrastructure. The strikes coincide with Russia’s ongoing military advancements in eastern Ukraine’s industrial Donbas region, as peace negotiations are anticipated in the coming year.
The missile strike occurs amid Ukrainian concerns over potential shifts in U.S. foreign policy. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday urged U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to maintain support for Ukraine and coordinate with European allies to counter Russia’s aggression. Trump is set to assume office next month, raising questions about the future of U.S. aid to Ukraine.
REUTERS
