Deadly Air Strikes Hit Kyiv and Several Ukrainian Cities
Early Friday morning, a series of intense Russian missile and drone attacks targeted Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, resulting in the deaths of at least six people and injuring around 80 others across multiple locations, according to Ukrainian officials. The barrage followed a stern warning issued by Russian President Vladimir Putin in response to recent Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian military assets.
Tragic Loss of Emergency Responders
Among the fatalities in Kyiv were three emergency responders who were killed during a subsequent attack while responding to an initial strike. Other casualties include two deaths in the northern city of Chernihiv and at least one in the northwestern city of Lutsk.
The President of Ukraine highlighted that residents might still be trapped under rubble following the strikes, underscoring the ongoing rescue efforts.
Widespread Damage Across Multiple Cities
The attacks also affected several other Ukrainian cities:
- Chernihiv: Two bodies recovered from industrial site rubble.
- Lutsk: A fatality found in an apartment complex, with approximately 30 injured; educational and government buildings damaged.
- Ternopil: Strikes on industrial facilities caused power outages and released toxic substances into the air, leading authorities to advise residents to remain indoors. Ten people were reported injured.
Massive Scale of Attack
The Ukrainian air force reported that the Russian offensive involved 407 drones—the highest number recorded in a single assault—along with 45 cruise and ballistic missiles targeting military and infrastructure facilities.
Impact on Kyiv’s Transport Infrastructure
Among the key targets was Kyiv’s metro system, where tracks between stations were damaged, causing service disruptions. The state railway company also rerouted trains due to damage on tracks outside the capital.
Witnesses described powerful explosions that rattled windows far from impact sites, and residents sought refuge in underground metro stations and parking garages. In the Solomianskyi district, a drone struck an apartment building, causing significant structural damage and injuring vehicles below.
Russian Retaliation Following Ukrainian Strikes
The attacks followed Ukrainian drone operations that destroyed strategic Russian bomber aircraft deep inside Russian territory. These Ukrainian operations involved covert drone insertions in military airfields, causing significant damage.
Russia's Defense Ministry justified the strike as a response to what it labeled "Ukrainian terrorist acts" against Russian territory. Feedback from international diplomatic channels indicated Putin intended to retaliate, conveying this through diplomatic intermediaries.
Calls for Increased International Pressure
Ukrainian leadership emphasized the urgency of global action to pressure Russia, warning that delays only prolong conflict and increase casualties. The Ukrainian military also launched counterstrikes against Russian airfields and fuel storage facilities in retaliation.
President Zelenskiy stated, "If someone is not applying pressure and is giving the war more time to take lives - that is complicity and accountability. We must act decisively."
