An infant was among three people killed in Russia’s overnight attacks on Kyiv, which also injured 18 and set fire to numerous buildings in the Ukrainian capital, including the seat of the government, officials confirmed on Sunday.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that the attacks began with drones raining down, followed by missile strikes, causing a fire at the government building in the Pecherskyi district. Thick smoke was seen rising from the site, according to Reuters witnesses.
The drone strikes killed the infant and a young woman, while a pregnant woman was among the five injured admitted to hospital. An elderly woman also died in a bomb shelter in the Darnytskyi district east of the Dnipro River. State emergency officials reported that a residential building in the area caught fire on two of its four stories, partially destroying its structure.
In the western Sviatoshynskyi district, several floors of a nine-story residential building were partially destroyed. Falling drone debris sparked fires in a 16-story apartment building and two additional nine-story buildings. Social media posts from emergency officials showed smoke billowing from apartment buildings, with some floors collapsed and facades crumbled.
Timur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, said the attacks were “deliberately and consciously striking civilian targets.” Dozens of explosions also shook central Ukraine’s Kremenchuk, causing localized power outages, according to Mayor Vitalii Maletskyi.
Russian strikes in Kryvyi Rih targeted transport and urban infrastructure but caused no injuries, while in Odesa, residential buildings and civilian infrastructure were damaged with several fires breaking out.
Moscow has not commented on the attacks. Both sides continue to deny intentionally targeting civilians, though thousands have died since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022.
With ongoing threats to western Ukraine, Poland activated its air defense and allied aircraft to ensure airspace safety, according to the operational command of the Polish armed forces. The attacks have highlighted the persistent vulnerability of urban centers and civilian populations as the war continues.
