Russia launched a fresh attack on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, igniting a fire in the Pechersky district’s cabinet building. Ukrainian military chief Teymur Takachenko reported the incident on social media. Reuters reported witnesses observing thick smoke from the main Ukrainian government building.
Russia Deploys Over 800 Drones
Ukrainian officials stated that Russia conducted a night-time assault on Kyiv, resulting in the death of a newborn and two others, injuring 18 more. Government headquarters and several buildings were set ablaze. Mayor Vitali Klitschko mentioned the attack began with drone strikes, followed by missile bombardments.
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Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko noted the unprecedented damage to the Ukrainian government’s main building during these assaults. The Ukrainian Air Force reported Russia launched 805 drones and 13 missiles overnight. Klitschko revealed on Telegram an infant and a young woman lost their lives in the drone attacks, while five others, including a pregnant woman, were hospitalized. Earlier, in a shelter in Kyiv’s lush Darnytsky district east of the Dnieper River, an elderly woman perished along with two more casualties.
Severe Impact on Residential Areas
State emergency officials reported that two of four floors in a Darnytsky residential building caught fire, causing significant damage. Klitschko and emergency officials indicated extensive destruction in a nine-story residential building in Kyiv's western Sviatoshynskyi district.
Source: aajtak
Falling debris from drones ignited fires in a 16-story apartment and two nine-story buildings, alongside other damage. Social media images from emergency officials displayed smoke emanating from these apartment buildings, with some floors collapsed and extensive facade damage. Takachenko asserted on Telegram that Russia deliberately targeted civilians.
Accusations of Targeting Civilians
Mayor Vitali Maletsky reported multiple explosions in Ukraine’s central city Kremenchuk on Telegram, disrupting power supplies in some areas. Military administration chief Oleksandr Vilkul stated Russian strikes on Kryvy Rih targeted transport and urban infrastructure with no casualties reported. Southern Ukraine's Odesa saw damage to civil infrastructure and residential buildings, with several apartment blocks set on fire, according to regional governor Oleh Kiper.
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Moscow did not immediately comment on the attacks, yet both sides have denied deliberately targeting civilians since Russia launched offensive operations against Ukraine in February 2022, resulting in thousands of casualties. The Polish armed forces highlighted the threat of aerial attacks over Western Ukraine, prompting Poland to activate its air defenses alongside allied aircraft for security.
Retaliatory Strike on Russian Oil Pipeline
In retaliation, Ukraine targeted Russia’s oil pipeline. Commander Robert Brovdy of Ukraine’s Drone Force reported an attack on the Druzhba oil pipeline in Russia’s Bryansk region, causing substantial damage. The Druzhba pipeline attack disrupted Russian oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia, nations maintaining energy ties with Russia despite other European states severing relations post the 2022 assault.
Kyiv declared the strikes aimed to weaken Russia’s war efforts. Ukrainian incursions in recent weeks have repeatedly disrupted oil supply to both countries. Moscow has yet to issue a response.
