At least six people, including a child, have been killed in a Ukrainian attack on the village of Rylsk in the Russian border region of Kursk, writes Governor Aleksandr Chinsjtein on Telegram. Several people are reported to be injured.
As Friday dawned, several explosions were heard in Kyiv, according to the Ukrainian public service company Suspilne. Shortly afterwards, the city's military administration announced that downed rocket parts had crashed on several different locations in the city, causing fires and killing at least one person.
Major Alert
A number of people are also reported to have been injured, wrote Mayor Vitalij Klytjko on Telegram earlier in the day. He added that 630 homes, 16 healthcare facilities, 17 schools, and 13 preschools were without heating after attacks on heating plants.
A nationwide air raid alert was issued by the Ukrainian air force on Friday morning, after Russian fighter jets took off from airbases.
It was reported that a ballistic missile had been fired towards Kyiv from the north, according to the air force. Several cruise missiles were also observed in the air. Residents of Kyiv were urged to seek shelter and stay there.
Homes Hit
From the Russian side, it is claimed that Friday's attacks on "targets within the defense industry and security services" in Kyiv are retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on a chemical plant in southern Russia last week. Western-made rockets were allegedly used, according to a statement from the Defense Ministry in Moscow, as reported by AFP.
In parallel, at least six people have been injured in Russian artillery shelling in the city of Cherson in southern Ukraine. Several residential buildings have been hit in the attacks, described as "massive" by the local military leadership.
