At least two civilians were killed and 17 injured when Russia sent drones and missiles against the Ukrainian capital during the night towards Sunday, according to Mayor Vitalij Klytjko. A child under one year and a young woman were killed.
The Kyiv Independent reports that the attacks came in waves, first around 03.30 on Sunday morning, later around 6 and 8 in the morning. After the third wave of attacks, residents came out to the smoke of a heavy fire all around the city.
Extinguishing the fire
According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyj, several large residential buildings in Kyiv were destroyed. In a multi-story building, four floors have completely collapsed. "According to preliminary data, several drones crossed the border between Ukraine and Belarus," he writes on X.
The attack also damaged Ukraine's government building, which began to burn during the morning.
"For the first time, the government building was damaged, the roof and the upper floors due to an enemy attack. Rescue workers are extinguishing the fire," writes Prime Minister Julia Svyrydenko on Telegram.
An image from the scene shows how smoke spreads from a severe fire on an upper floor of the building.
A targeted attack on the building would be seen as a Russian escalation, as Moscow has previously avoided attacking the government quarters in the center.
However, the Russian Defense Ministry continues its previous line, claiming that it has not targeted any civilians at all. The attacks are alleged to be directed only against "parts of Ukraine's military-industrial complex and transport infrastructure," according to AFP.
Largest attack
Other parts of Ukraine were also attacked. Among other things, Russia targeted the Sumy region late on Saturday evening. One civilian was killed and several were injured, according to local authorities. A nine-year-old child was also injured. Attacks were also directed against Odessa and the Chernihiv region, where another person is said to have died.
Another dozen people were injured in an attack on Zaporizhzhia in the south, four of whom are being treated in hospital, according to AFP.
In total, Russia is said to have sent over 800 drones and decoys, according to Ukrainian authorities, making it the largest drone attack since the full-scale invasion in 2022, writes AP.
