Russian Missile and Drone Strikes Devastate Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia Amid Ongoing Conflict
Russian Missile and Drone Strikes Devastate Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia Amid Ongoing Conflict

Russian Missile and Drone Strikes Devastate Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia Amid Ongoing Conflict

On Saturday morning, Russian forces launched a combined missile and drone strike on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, causing widespread devastation. The attack resulted in at least three deaths and left three others wounded. Explosions rocked the city as air defenses intercepted some of the incoming missiles and drones, but the strike still caused significant damage. Local authorities reported that a metro station and a water pipe were among the infrastructure affected by the attack.

Rescue teams worked tirelessly amidst the chaos, wading through flooded streets and searching through debris. The remnants of a van were found near the damaged metro station, which had twisted metal and shattered windows, signaling the extent of the blast. The impact of the strike further underscores the violence of the ongoing conflict. While the Ukrainian government reported a total of four casualties, local police officials confirmed three deaths, highlighting the challenge of accurate reporting during such destructive events.

Russian Missile and Drone Strikes Devastate Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia Amid Ongoing Conflict
Russian Missile and Drone Strikes Devastate Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia Amid Ongoing Conflict

Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s parliamentary ombudsman, condemned the attack on social media, describing it as a brutal and ruthless act by Russian forces. He outlined that the assault began with drones, followed by a ballistic missile strike, reflecting the continued use of such methods by Russia in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Despite the damage and loss of life, Moscow has yet to issue any official comments, with the Russian government typically denying accusations of targeting civilians during such raids.

In addition to the attack on Kyiv, Russia also targeted the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia. Local officials reported that ten people were injured in the strike, and the offices of an industrial facility were damaged. This attack, like many others, is part of Russia’s broader strategy to target critical infrastructure across Ukraine, including cities far behind the frontlines of the conflict, which has now lasted nearly three years.

Throughout the overnight attack, Ukraine’s military reported that it successfully intercepted a significant number of Russian drones and missiles. Specifically, 24 out of 39 drones and two out of four missiles were destroyed. However, despite these defensive efforts, the strikes continued to take a toll on Ukraine’s civilian population, further intensifying the humanitarian crisis in the region. Additionally, earlier on Friday, a Russian missile strike in Kryvyi Rih, President Zelenskyy’s hometown, killed four people and partially destroyed an educational facility, showing that such assaults are indiscriminate and affect all corners of Ukraine.