A Russian missile attack on Kyiv has left at least one dead and multiple embassies damaged, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Early Friday, the Kyiv City Military Administration reported a fatality and 12 injuries following a Russian missile assault on Ukraine’s capital. Among the injured, five were hospitalized while others received on-site treatment. This attack coincided with tensions escalating after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s challenge to a ‘duel,’ which drew a sharp retort from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky who called Putin a ‘dumbass.’
Ukraine’s Air Force Command stated that Russia launched five ballistic missiles at Kyiv at approximately 7 a.m. on Friday, all of which were intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses. Despite the successful interception, debris from the downed missiles caused damage, impacting the city’s core. In one area, infrastructure damages included an office building, road surfaces, a gas pipe, and five cars igniting due to the impact, as described by Serhiy Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, on Telegram. Moreover, a fire was reported at a construction site, furthering the chaos.
The foreign ministry of Ukraine reported damage to several embassies in a building struck by the missiles. A spokesperson highlighted the embassies of Albania, Argentina, Palestine, North Macedonia, Portugal, and Montenegro as affected, with broken windows and doors. Portugal confirmed minor damages and summoned the Russian chargé d’affaires.
The Russian Defense Ministry asserted its missile strike targeted Ukrainian military sites, allegedly in retaliation for a prior Ukrainian attack using American-made missiles on a chemical plant in Russia’s Rostov region. Russia claimed its strike achieved intended objectives, including impacting the SBU command post, a missile design bureau, and positions of the Patriot anti-aircraft system. President Zelensky called for increased sanctions on Russia and expressed gratitude towards international allies for their support in providing air defense systems.
Elsewhere, the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson witnessed a severe shelling by Russian forces aiming to advance, leading to two civilian deaths and 10 injuries, as reported by Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson region military administration.
This latest escalation in military actions highlights the tense situation in Ukraine, with significant humanitarian and diplomatic implications.
