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One dead, many injured as Russian drones, ballistic missiles strike Kyiv

20.12.2024 11:05
Russia launched a wave of drone and ballistic missile attacks on the Ukrainian capital on Friday morning, triggering air raid sirens across the country and sending residents of Kyiv scrambling for shelter, local officials said.
A business center and residential buildings in central Kyiv were damaged by a Russian missile attack on Friday morning. Russian forces used five ballistic missiles in the attack, which were shot down by Ukrainian air defenses; Russians also made heavy use of attack drones at night, according to Ukrainian officials.
A business center and residential buildings in central Kyiv were damaged by a Russian missile attack on Friday morning. Russian forces used five ballistic missiles in the attack, which were shot down by Ukrainian air defenses; Russians also made heavy use of attack drones at night, according to Ukrainian officials. PAP/Vladyslav Musiienko

Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported at least one death and multiple injuries in the city, saying that falling missile debris ignited fires in several cars and a residential home.

Local authorities appealed to residents to remain in shelters, while emergency services worked to contain the damage in multiple districts, including Solomianskyi and Shevchenkivskyi.

The strikes came amid an air alert announced nationwide after Russian forces deployed a MiG-31K fighter jet armed with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, according to Ukrainian officials.

Air defense units were active around Kyiv, and at least two people were hospitalized following several explosions around 7 a.m. local time, Ukrainian media outlets reported.

In addition to the fires, infrastructure damage was reported, including a heating pipeline in the Holosiivskyi district.

The city’s military administration chief, Serhiy Popko, said that local air defenses managed to intercept and neutralize several incoming Russian combat drones.

Ukrainian authorities lifted air raid alerts before 8 a.m. local time, though emergency crews continued to operate at multiple sites, assessing the extent of the damage as the capital’s residents emerged from underground shelters.

(jh/gs)

Source: PAP, IAR, Polskie Radio 24