Russia launched a major missile and drone attack on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, and its surrounding areas, killing four people and wounding more than 60, according to Ukrainian officials. The attack came after Moscow threatened retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on Russian-controlled areas in eastern Ukraine.
The explosions began shortly after 1 a.m. local time on Sunday, following a warning from Ukraine's air force that Russia might launch Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missiles. According to the air force, the attack included 600 drones and 90 missiles launched from air, sea, and ground platforms. Ukrainian air defenses destroyed or jammed 549 drones and 55 missiles, while 19 other missiles missed their targets.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported two deaths in the capital and 56 injuries. The head of the Kyiv region added two more deaths and nine injuries.
Damage was reported at 40 locations across the capital's districts, including residential buildings, according to Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv military administration, who wrote on Telegram: "The capital suffered a massive ballistic missile attack."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia used the hard-to-intercept Oreshnik missile in the attack. Kyiv officials reported damage to offices, shops, and the lobby of a metro station. Independence Square and a post office were also hit.
Ukrainian officials and the U.S. embassy had earlier warned of an attack on Kyiv after Russia vowed to "punish" those responsible for deadly strikes on a Russian-controlled area in eastern Ukraine. Moscow claimed those attacks hit a college dormitory, killing at least 18 people.
The drone attack, which took place from Thursday night into Friday morning—one of Ukraine's deadliest in months—also injured 42 people in Russian-occupied Starobilsk, Luhansk region, with many trapped under rubble.
Russia has previously struck Ukraine twice with Oreshnik missiles, which President Vladimir Putin boasts are impossible to intercept due to speeds reportedly exceeding Mach 10.
