Kyiv and several other Ukrainian cities came under intense Russian missile and drone attacks in the early hours of Friday, killing at least six people and injuring over 80, according to Ukrainian officials. The strikes, which targeted residential areas, transport systems, and energy infrastructure, followed Ukrainian drone attacks that destroyed several Russian strategic bombers.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed that three emergency responders were among the dead in Kyiv. Two more people were killed in Chernihiv and one in Lutsk. In a statement, Zelenskiy condemned the attacks, highlighting the loss of rescue workers who were killed in a follow-up strike after responding to an initial missile hit.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Russia’s retaliatory action focused on civilian targets, including high-rise buildings and critical infrastructure. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed the strikes were in response to Ukrainian “terrorist acts” on Russian territory.
The air assault caused extensive damage. In Kyiv, a drone strike severely damaged the metro transport system, disrupting services and damaging tracks between stations. Railway lines outside the capital were also affected, leading to train diversions.
Cities like Chernihiv, Lutsk, and Ternopil also suffered significant damage. Two people were found dead under the rubble in Chernihiv, while 30 were injured in Lutsk after missiles hit an apartment complex and educational facilities. Ternopil faced power outages and toxic air warnings following a strike on an industrial facility.
Ukraine's air force reported that Russia used 407 drones and launched 45 cruise and ballistic missiles — one of the largest aerial barrages of the war so far. Residents across Kyiv took shelter in metro stations and underground garages as powerful explosions rocked the city.
President Zelenskiy called on the international community to increase pressure on Russia, stating that failure to act would amount to complicity. The Ukrainian military said it responded with pre-emptive strikes on Russian airbases at Engels and Dyagilevo and targeted three fuel depots.
The escalation follows Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian airfields that destroyed bomber aircraft using small drones hidden in wooden sheds. After a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, former U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged that Russia was planning retaliation for those attacks — which seemingly came in the form of this latest deadly air assault.
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