Russia on Tuesday launched massive retaliatory missile and drone strikes on Kyiv, killing nine people in the capital city, officials said. The first wave of strikes hit Kyiv around 1:30 am local time, followed by a second wave at around 2:15 am and a third at 4 am, as confirmed by multiple videos of the attacks.
In videos shared on social media, powerful explosions could be heard, with electricity in several areas going out, plunging much of the Ukrainian capital into darkness.
Mayor Vitaly Klitschko confirmed partial blackouts in several districts and urged residents to seek shelter as the capital’s air defences engaged incoming targets.
Other footage captured the sounds of repeated secondary explosions, hinting that Kyiv's arms and ammunition dumps may have been hit in the latest strikes, though these claims remain unverified.
Ukrainian officials have maintained strict control over information and prevented details about targeted locations from leaking.
The officials confirmed nine people were killed and at least 14 were injured after falling debris from intercepted missiles and drones triggered fires in residential areas and courtyards. Several explosions were also reported in Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporozhye, as well as in Sumy and Kharkov regions.
However, while the Russian side had announced plans to launch massive strikes on Ukraine over the past week, its Ministry of Defence has not yet issued a statement on the latest reported attack.
Moscow had previously pledged to conduct “systematic and consistent strikes” on Kyiv’s military installations, drone manufacturing sites, command posts, and “decision-making centres” in retaliation for the deadly “terrorist attack” in Russia’s Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) on May 22 that killed 21 teenage girls.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that the perpetrators will suffer a “well-deserved and inevitable punishment".
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