In the early hours of Friday, the city of Kyiv experienced a harsh wake-up call as Russian ballistic missiles struck the Ukrainian capital, resulting in at least one death and 12 injuries, according to local authorities.
Amid the chaos, residents of Kyiv heard no less than three loud blasts just before dawn. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that it intercepted five Iskander short-range ballistic missiles aimed at the city. However, debris from these missiles still managed to cause fires and damage across three districts, affecting many residential buildings, medical facilities, schools, and kindergartens.
The aftermath saw 630 residential buildings, 16 medical establishments, and 30 schools left without heating. The Kyiv military government urged citizens to react swiftly to reports of incoming ballistic threats, stressing the limited time available to seek shelter.
Russia has been regularly targeting Ukrainian civilian areas throughout the nearly three-year-long conflict. This act often aims to disrupt the electrical grid and lower the morale of Ukrainians. Ukraine, on its part, has been targeting Russian infrastructure that supports the Kremlin’s war efforts.
On this occasion, Kyiv was not the only area affected. Missile remnants hit the city center, damaging office towers, the prominent St. Nicholas Catholic Church, and the Kyiv National Linguistic University. It is suspected that a low-altitude missile was intercepted, with its shock wave damaging windows and structures at six embassies, as stated by Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry.
Amid the crisis, 32-year-old photographer Valeriia Dubova found refuge in a bustling metro station, recounting how she felt the walls tremble with every explosion during the morning attack. Meanwhile, fire trucks and ambulances rushed through the city, dealing with the aftermath as shattered glass littered the streets.
The Russian Defense Ministry attributed the strike to a Ukrainian missile attack on Russia’s Rostov region two days prior, involving US-made Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles. Ukraine, in defense of its actions, claimed a refinery in Rostov was targeted as part of its strategy to impact Russian infrastructure.
The use of Western-supplied weaponry on Russian soil has notably irked the Kremlin. In a recent escalation, Ukraine used US-supplied long-range missiles on November 19, prompting Moscow to deploy its new Oreshnik hypersonic missile for the first time. Russian President Vladimir Putin hinted at potentially targeting government buildings in Kyiv with this missile, although such actions have yet to occur.
Responding to Ukraine’s operations in Rostov, Russia claimed an assault on Ukrainian defense systems and military production sites, announcing that the intended targets were successfully hit. These claims remain unverified at this time.
Meanwhile, in other parts of Ukraine, Russian missile strikes injured six individuals, including a 15-year-old girl, in the city of Kryvyi Rih. This marked the second consecutive night of attacks in the hometown of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Further south, Russian artillery wreaked havoc in Kherson, causing substantial damage and leaving approximately 60,000 residents without power, according to regional governor Olesksandr Prokudin.
The ongoing conflict highlights the continuing tension between Russia and Ukraine, with civilians caught in the crossfire. Each side seems determined to press on with strategic attacks, leaving no immediate end in sight.
Source: Apnews
