Kyiv: In a tragic escalation of the ongoing conflict, Ukrainian officials have reported that four people were killed in a Russian air strike on central Kyiv overnight. The attack occurred shortly after another air raid had ended, with fresh alarms sounding at 06:00 (04:00 GMT), warning of a ballistic missile threat and urging residents to seek shelter.
Impact on Shevchenkivskyi District
The central Shevchenkivskyi district bore the brunt of the attack. Windows were shattered across the area, including at a metro station, and a fire broke out in a non-residential building, according to Kyiv’s Mayor, Vitali Klitschko. A large crater now scars the road outside a business center, a tall glass tower heavily damaged by either a second missile or a large fragment. This building, completed before 2022, had remained vacant since construction.
Nearby structures, including a McDonald’s and a dental clinic, suffered extensive damage. Staff at the dental clinic sifted through shattered glass and debris, salvaging what they could. A woman removing ornaments from a standing Christmas tree remarked, “It’s happened before, but never as badly as this.” When asked how she felt, she simply shrugged, “We got used to it.”
Eyewitness Accounts
Residents shared harrowing accounts of the attack. Oleksandr, a young man living in a nearby apartment block, described the sequence of explosions: “There were three explosions in a row, then a big fire glow in the sky – and the building shook. It was very loud. I woke up immediately. I even felt the wall shaking. When the third strike came, it was pretty scary.”
Aftermath and Emergency Response
On Saturday morning, emergency teams and police swarmed the area, with the main road cordoned off. A man in military fatigues was seen collecting twisted fragments of metal, believed to be parts of the missile. Videos shared online depicted a car engulfed in flames and water flooding a street in the immediate aftermath of the strike. Air defenses were active during the attack, Mayor Klitschko confirmed.
Broader Context of the Conflict
This marks the second fatal strike on Kyiv this month, following a New Year’s Day attack that killed two people. In the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, six people were injured in another Russian strike on Saturday, with one woman in critical condition.
These attacks are the latest in a brutal conflict that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. As the war continues, civilians in affected areas endure relentless devastation, with many left to grapple with the destruction of their homes and livelihoods.
Conclusion
The air strikes on Kyiv and other regions underscore the ongoing dangers faced by Ukrainian civilians as the conflict persists. As emergency teams work to clear the rubble and restore order, the resilience of those affected remains a poignant reminder of the human toll of war.
