Two dead after Russian aerial attack hits Kyiv’s Darnytskyi district

On Wednesday, Russian missile strikes killed two people in Kyiv, according to the city's mayor. President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously warned of "massive strikes" targeting the Ukrainian capital. The city has been experiencing a surge in attacks as winter approaches, with constant air raid sirens warning of incoming Russian strikes.

Residents took refuge in subway stations, carrying belongings, after receiving military alerts for the city. The Russian attacks have primarily targeted energy infrastructure, rail and road transport, and bridges connecting the metropolis along the Dnipro river. Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, reported two fatalities resulting from a fire in the densely populated Darnytskyi neighborhood due to the Wednesday's attack.

President Zelensky urged residents to remain vigilant, stating that the military was ready to respond in line with the capabilities of their defense systems. Scheduled power cuts were implemented to alleviate the pressure on the damaged power grid in Kyiv. The Ukrainian air force reported a ballistic missile heading towards the city.

Military monitoring sources expected a large-scale Russian attack, utilizing a combination of cruise and ballistic missiles along with fast-moving jet-powered drones. Ukrainian journalists in Kyiv heard a series of explosions early on Wednesday. In the northeastern Sumy Oblast region, Russian drone strikes resulted in two deaths and injuries to three children.

Kyiv's mayor had previously stated that the capital should be in a state of war as the enemy was "tearing Kyiv apart" with strikes on bridges and energy infrastructure. Ukraine's military had warned of a ballistic missile heading towards Zaporizhzhia, where authorities reported an attack causing damage to transport infrastructure.