Russian air attacks hit major Ukrainian cities early Tuesday, killing at least nine and injuring over 60, according to authorities. The strikes followed days of warnings that Moscow was planning a significant assault.
Russia has been targeting Ukraine’s power supply and infrastructure while Ukraine has intensified its attacks on Russian oil facilities this year, sometimes causing casualties. Both sides deny targeting civilians.
Five people were killed and 25 injured in a missile and drone attack on Dnipro, according to regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha. Injured individuals are hospitalized in moderate condition, with pictures of destroyed buildings and burnt-out vehicles posted online.
At least four were killed and 51 injured across Kyiv, including children, after a suspected missile strike triggered a collapse at a 24-storey apartment building, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Additionally, two open area fires, one near a kindergarten, have been reported.
Thousands of residents fled into the Kyiv subway system for shelter as defense systems repelled Russian attacks, witnesses said.
President Zelenskiy reiterated warnings of a possible major assault in his nightly video address, urging citizens to prepare 24/7 with available supplies. Russia warned last week it intended “systematic strikes” on targets linked to Ukraine’s military and decision-making centers, responding to a drone attack that killed 21 people.
In Kharkiv, a child was among the 10 injured in drone and missile attacks, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov. A fire at Russia’s Ilsky oil refinery in Krasnodar following a drone attack has also been reported. Air defense systems repelled drone attacks over Sevastopol, a Russian naval base in Crimea.
The war has persisted since February 2022 when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Efforts to end the conflict have seen little progress, with U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration focused on conflicts in the Middle East.