Ukraine: Several killed in 'massive' Russian strikes on Kyiv

Russian airstrikes in Ukraine's capital Kyiv resulted in at least 16 fatalities and over 40 injuries, according to officials on Thursday. Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko confirmed Moscow had executed a large-scale ballistic missile assault on the city, emphasizing that cleanup efforts were ongoing. He appealed for Friday to be designated as a day of mourning. The attacks inflicted damage on residential structures, a medical establishment, and an educational institution. The power supply in certain areas of Kyiv was also disrupted.

At least 16 people perished in Kyiv, with seven of them succumbing in the Solomianskyi district due to a fire that obliterated the top floors of a nine-story residential building. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attributed the extensive Russian attack to their prolonged preparation, involving various ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones aimed at causing substantial civilian infrastructure damage.

Ukraine's limited interceptor capability to neutralize ballistic missiles, a vulnerability Russia has capitalized on, was highlighted by Zelenskyy.

Russia targeted facilities manufacturing drone components, a military depot, and a logistics hub during the strikes on Kyiv and surrounding regions, as reported by the Russian Defense Ministry. In neighboring Poland, the Polish military initiated defensive aviation operations to safeguard its airspace in response to the Russian strikes.

Romania's military reported a drone crash into a deserted area in Tulcea during the Russian attacks, prompting the deployment of Spanish fighter jets and a Romanian air force helicopter. A drone also breached Moldova's airspace. Despite diplomatic attempts to establish a truce in the ongoing conflict, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, no resolution has been reached.