Russia struck residential parts of Ukraine’s capital Kyiv on Friday, Ukraine said, killing six people in a single apartment block in attacks President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced as “heinous” and aimed at civilians. Kyiv also said a Russian drone attack on a market in southern Ukraine hours later killed two more people.
It was one of the largest attacks on Kyiv since Russia launched its full-scale war in Ukraine in 2022, hitting buildings in most of the capital’s districts. The attack also damaged Azerbaijan’s embassy.
Baku said an Iskander-type missile had destroyed part of its compound and summoned Moscow’s envoy.
In the east of the city, where rescue workers were clearing debris, reporters saw multi-storey buildings with dozens of windows and balconies blown out, their facades charred.
“My hair caught fire and I started putting it out”, said local resident Maria Kalchenko, outside one of the buildings.
A drone explodes during a Russian missile and drone strike in Kyiv, Ukraine. — Reuters
She turned to look for her dog before a wall near her collapsed. “The doors were blown out, flames everywhere, the fire spreading, the neighbours screaming”, she said. Zelensky said the attack was specifically aimed to cause “terror”.
“This was a deliberately calculated attack aimed at causing maximum harm to people and civilian infrastructure”, he added. A hospital, shops and offices were also damaged; and around 30 people were wounded, officials said.
Moscow has fired record missile and drone barrages at Ukraine in recent months, hitting energy and rail infrastructure.
It has also targeted residential areas, knocking out power for tens of thousands across the country as temperatures plunge.
Germany said Friday’s attack showed a “contempt for humanity” from Moscow.
“It is very evident and clear that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin aims to make winter as unbearable as possible for Ukraine, to destroy morale and break the resistance of the Ukrainian people”, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said.
Rescuers work at the site of an apartment building hit during an overnight Russian drone and missile strikes in Kyiv. — Reuters
Overnight, journalists saw Ukraine using tracer bullets and missile defence systems; and incandescent debris falling over large areas above the capital.
The explosions lit up the night sky in flashes of bright orange.
Ukraine’s air force said it downed 405 out of 430 drones launched by Russia and 14 out of 19 missiles.
A senior Ukrainian official said the city’s air defences worked particularly well to stop the attack from wreaking even more damage.
There were previously “certain issues with air defence” but this time “the air defence systems worked well” they said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The official also said the attack showed how “the Russians have started using significantly more ballistic missiles”.
Ballistic missiles are particularly difficult to intercept given their speed and trajectory.
“They combine ballistic and aeroballistic missiles with waves of drones. It is not easy to shoot down”, the official explained. Russia’s defence ministry said its forces carried out a “massive strike” of drones and hypersonic missiles against Ukrainian military and energy sites. — AFP
