Death Toll From Russian Strikes on Kyiv Rises to Eight

KYIV: (News Desk) – At least eight people were killed and dozens wounded after Russian missile and drone strikes hit Kyiv and surrounding areas early Thursday, Ukrainian officials said.

The attack came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia was preparing a major assault and cut short his visit to Dublin to return home.

Explosions were heard in central and eastern Kyiv during an air-raid alert, with residents rushing to metro stations and other shelters along with their children and pets.

Putin vows to secure Russia as Ukraine intensifies deep strikes

Kyiv’s military administration chief Tymur Tkachenko said eight people were killed and at least 25 others injured, including children. He accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians and residential areas.

The wider Kyiv region was also hit, with five districts affected, according to regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk. He said Russia used strike drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles in the overnight attack.

Emergency teams were deployed to battle fires in warehouses and a house in the Bucha district, while homes, a student dormitory and vehicles were damaged in other areas.

Images released by Ukraine’s emergency services showed severe damage to a residential building, with a large section of the structure destroyed.
Earlier, Zelensky urged citizens to remain vigilant and follow air-raid warnings.

“I urge our people to be especially careful, to protect themselves, their children and their families; to use shelters and heed air raid alerts,” he said.

Russia has repeatedly launched missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities since the start of its invasion more than four years ago. Ukraine has also increased drone strikes inside Russia in recent weeks, targeting military and energy infrastructure.

Meanwhile, a new study by the US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies said the war has resulted in more than two million military casualties, with Russian forces suffering the majority of losses.

Efforts by the United States to broker a ceasefire or peace agreement have so far failed.