Russian ballistic missiles kill 12 in Ukraine’s Kyiv, spark fires

On Thursday, Russian ballistic missiles struck Kyiv, killing 12 people and injuring over 30 others, according to city authorities. The attacks caused extensive damage, destroying the upper floors of a nine-story residential building in Kyiv's Solomianskyi district, where seven individuals lost their lives. Mayor Vitali Klitschko called for Friday to be a day of mourning and reported that two additional districts also suffered damage.

Non-residential facilities, a school, and a children's hospital were among the targets. The power company DTEK reported that it had restored electricity to more than half of the approximately 90,000 homes left without power in the capital following the attack.

Russian forces have intensified their air assaults on Ukraine in recent months, seeking to exploit the smaller nation's limited interceptor capabilities to shoot down ballistic missiles. The Russian defense ministry claimed that Moscow carried out airstrikes and drone attacks on Kyiv and the surrounding region. Targets included facilities producing drone components, a military depot, a logistics hub, and other strategic sites.