Dozens Dead and Injured in Russian Missile and Drone Attack on Kyiv

SadaNews - The Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, witnessed intense Russian attacks early Thursday involving ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones, resulting in the death of at least eight people and injuring 25 others, including children, according to Ukrainian authorities.

The strikes came hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia is preparing to launch a "massive attack" on the country.

A series of explosions echoed throughout the capital, where reporters from Agence France-Presse heard more than 12 explosions, while residents, including children and pet owners, rushed to metro stations that turned into shelters from the bombardment.

Kyiv’s military administration chief, Tymur Tkachchenko, stated that the initial toll from the attack rose to eight dead and 25 injured, accusing Russian forces of deliberately targeting residential areas and civilians. Photos published by the Ukrainian emergency service showed extensive damage in one residential complex.

Meanwhile, Kyiv's Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that the city was hit by simultaneous attacks involving ballistic missiles and drones, noting that the sound of explosions was heard across the capital.

The effects of the attack extended to the Kyiv region, where Governor Mykola Kalashnyk explained that the strikes caused fires and significant damage to buildings and facilities, particularly in the Bucha area, which witnessed warehouses and a residential house burning, in addition to damage to student housing and vehicles in various areas.

He noted that the attack was executed using a mix of drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles.

Residents of the capital described the night of the attack as extremely harsh, with many forced to spend hours inside metro stations.

Citizen Katerina Kucheryava, 32, stated that her young daughter was used to sleeping in peace and darkness, but the noise, bright lights, barking dogs, and the presence of other children made sleep almost impossible.

Zelensky had just concluded his visit to Dublin and returned rapidly to Ukraine after receiving intelligence reports about an impending Russian attack. He urged citizens to exercise the utmost caution and seek shelter, affirming that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been preparing for this strike for some time.

In turn, Ukraine intensified its long-range drone attacks inside Russian territory in recent weeks, targeting energy facilities and military objectives, while Moscow reported that its air defenses had shot down hundreds of Ukrainian drones in recent days.

On the human losses front, the U.S. Center for Strategic and International Studies published a study estimating that the total casualties for both sides since the outbreak of the war in February 2022 have exceeded two million victims, including dead, wounded, and missing.

According to the study, Russian forces suffered about 1.4 million casualties, including dead, wounded, and missing, with fatalities estimated between 400,000 and 450,000, while Ukrainian losses were estimated to be between 125,000 and 150,000 deaths, in addition to between 525,000 and 625,000 injuries.