Russia launched a missile assault on Kyiv on Thursday, resulting in at least 17 injuries and damage to educational, residential, and industrial structures.
Officials reported the air force intercepted all incoming missiles after a 44-day hiatus of such attacks on the Ukrainian capital. The destruction stemmed from debris fallout.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, via the Telegram messaging app, emphasized the persistent threat and called for global unity to provide air defence systems to Ukraine.
In various parts of Kyiv, at least 13 individuals suffered injuries, with the region reporting four additional casualties. Among the injured transported to hospitals was an 11-year-old girl, city authorities noted.
Russian President Vladimir Putin previously accused Kyiv of attempting to disrupt the Russian presidential election, promising repercussions for Ukraine.
Despite denials of targeting civilians, Russia’s invasion on February 24, 2022, has seen thousands of missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian locales, resulting in numerous civilian deaths.
The Ukrainian military disclosed that Russia had launched over 8,000 missiles at Ukraine in the conflict’s first two years.
Kyiv has experienced over 1,020 air raid alarms since the war’s outset, with the capital under alert for nearly three hours on Thursday morning.
Kostyantyn, a Kyiv resident, expressed profound hatred towards Russia, which was highlighted by the damage to his residence. His wife, Alisa, criticized her parents in Crimea for their electoral support for Putin, linking it to the danger they faced.
Serhiy Popko, leading Kyiv’s military administration, stated that strategic bombers and missiles launched from Russian territory targeted Kyiv from multiple angles.
City officials reported damage to several kindergartens, schools, residential buildings, and industrial sites due to missile debris.
According to regional authorities, debris damaged approximately 40 private homes and two apartment buildings in the broader region.
Agiya Zagrebelska, leading sanctions policy at the National Agency on Corruption Prevention, estimated Russia’s expenditure on the Kyiv missile attack at $390 million, a fraction of the taxes paid by international companies to Russia since the full-scale invasion began.
