Early Thursday morning (April 24), Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, resulting in at least 9 deaths and over 70 injuries, including 6 children and 1 pregnant woman. This is one of the most severe airstrikes in recent months. Concerns arise across various sectors on whether this incident will affect the negotiation process between Russia and Ukraine.
According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the attack resulted in 9 fatalities and over 70 injuries, with at least 42 individuals receiving medical treatment. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that among the injured are 6 children and 1 pregnant woman, and rescue teams are working to extract survivors from the rubble at various locations.
The Kyiv City Military Administration noted that Russia utilized multiple drones, precision-guided missiles, and ballistic missiles in a coordinated attack on Kyiv. Initial reports indicate the airstrikes began around 1 am local time, lasting for several hours, during which explosions were heard in the Kyiv city center along with the sound of anti-aircraft systems.
Emergency services indicated that at least 2 children are currently missing, with rescue teams utilizing climbing equipment and sniffer dogs to conduct search and rescue operations in 13 different locations.
Officials reported that multiple buildings were hit by missiles or drones, resulting in fires in residential areas, apartments, commercial and administrative buildings, with over 40 fire incidents reported. Vehicles and residences in some areas were also hit by falling metal fragments.
Various regions of Kyiv, including Sviatoshynskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, Holosiivskyi, Podilskyi districts, and other administrative areas, were affected by the attack.
Freelance journalist Euan MacDonald reported hearing several missiles and Shahed drones flying over the city that night, with anti-aircraft fire heard throughout the night. Some Kyiv residents were forced to take shelter in metro stations to avoid the airstrikes.
In addition to Kyiv, Kharkiv, the second-largest city in northeastern Ukraine, also faced intensive missile and drone attacks during the night. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov stated on Telegram that the city was targeted with 14 drone attacks and 10 missile strikes, causing damage to multiple residential buildings, a municipal clinic, a school, private residences, industrial facilities, and a hotel.
Terekhov mentioned that the latest strike hit a densely populated residential area, resulting in 2 injuries.
Reports of airstrikes also emerged in other cities such as Zhytomyr, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Khmelnytskyi, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia.
Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs Igor Klymenko described the attacks as a “massive joint strike,” with Kyiv being a heavily affected area.
The state-owned railway company Ukrzaliznytsia confirmed that railway infrastructure was also targeted, resulting in injuries to two railway workers. However, train operations in Kyiv and Kharkiv were reported to be running normally.
Kyiv had previously been hit by a missile attack in early April, which left at least 3 people injured. Chief of Staff of the President’s Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak condemned Putin, emphasizing the need to “stop the attacks on civilians.”