Russian drone and missile strikes rock Kyiv, three dead
PTC Web Desk: Russian forces launched a coordinated drone and missile attack on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, in the early hours of Saturday, killing at least three persons and wounding three others, according to city officials. The strike, which targeted a central district, caused widespread damage and underscored the ongoing intensity of the nearly three-year-long conflict.
Explosions lit up the pre-dawn sky as Kyiv's air defenses intercepted multiple incoming threats, said Timur Tkachenko, the city's military administration chief. He confirmed the deaths of four persons, while the police reported three fatalities. The attack also left a metro station and a water pipe severely damaged, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
Rescue teams navigated flooded streets as they searched through rubble, with the charred remains of a van visible near the damaged metro station, its windows shattered and metal framework mangled.
"Russian forces launched drones first, followed by ballistic missile strikes," Ukrainian parliamentary ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said on social media. "These actions highlight the enemy's sheer ruthlessness and barbaric nature."
Moscow has yet to comment on the attack but consistently denies targeting civilians in its military operations.
In addition to the assault on Kyiv, Russia also struck the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, wounding 10 persons and damaging the offices of an industrial facility, according to the regional governor.
Ukraine's military reported that it intercepted 24 of 39 drones and two of the four missiles launched overnight across various regions.
On Friday, a separate Russian missile attack on Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, killed four persons and caused significant damage to an educational facility.
Russia has intensified airstrikes targeting critical infrastructure in Ukrainian towns and cities, often far from the front lines. These relentless attacks continue to impact civilian populations and raise global condemnation of Russia’s military tactics.
- With inputs from agencies
