Russian missiles target Kyiv

Attack on Kharkiv leaves five dead

FE Team | Published: March 21, 2024 23:35:11

Firefighters work at a site hit by a Russian missile strike in Kharkiv on Wednesday — Reuters

KYIV, Mar 21 (BBC/Reuters): Ukraine has intercepted 31 missiles launched by Russia at Kyiv overnight, Ukraine's air force said. At least 17 people, including a child, were injured by falling debris, four of whom are in hospital, authorities said.
It is the largest Russian attack in weeks and follows a vow from Moscow for revenge over recent attacks by Ukraine on its border regions. The attack prompted Ukraine's President Volodymr Zelensky to renew his call for more military aid from Western allies.
Several explosions were heard throughout Kyiv shortly before dawn as its anti-missile defence systems shot the rockets down. Debris fell in the Podilsky, Shevchenkivskyi and Sviatoshyn disctricts, causing fires on the roofs of a power transformer, several residential buildings and cars, the head of the city military administration Serhiy Popko said.
He added that some windows had been blown out in the shockwaves. "As a result of successful combat operations, all enemy missiles were shot down over Kyiv and on the approaches to the capital," Mr Popko posted on Telegram.
Kyiv residents described chaos as debris rained down on them. "The cars were burning over there, everything was exploding... I came back, took cat carriers, tried to find my cats, but I couldn't," said one, Tetiana.
On Wednesday, five people were killed in a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Mr Zelensky said. Earlier this week, authorities in the nearby Sumy region said that more than 150 people had been forced to flee because of intensified shelling.
A Russian missile hit an industrial area in Ukraine's northern city of Kharkiv on Wednesday, killing at least five people and injuring eight while causing a major fire in a printing house, local authorities said.
The mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, said five others were missing after the strike.