Russia has launched an aerial assault on the Ukrainian capital, following a series of threats from President Vladimir Putin.
The missile attacks took place on Friday morning and have so far left “at least one user dead and seven injured,” according to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s Telegram. The kyiv city army leadership later reported that the number of wounded had risen to 11.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that Russia introduced an Iskander ballistic missile from the Rostov region, as well as a Kh-59/69 guided missile and 65 Shahed attack drones.
Five ballistic missiles and 40 of Russia’s UAVs were shot down before reaching their target, the General Staff said.
Ukraine has called on its Western backers to provide more air defenses for its major cities, many of which were left without strength after last November’s planned attack on the country’s network of forces.
Although Ukrainian air defense intercepted many missiles in Friday’s attack, it has already caused significant damage in the Ukrainian capital, setting fires in several areas, and the government urged citizens to stay in shelters.
“As a result of the enemy attack, debris fell in the Holosiivskyi, Solomyanskyi, Shevchenkivskyi and Dniprovskyi districts. There are fires: cars are also burning on the roofs of buildings. A heating pipe was also damaged in the Holosiivskyi district. The emergency is at work. Everywhere,” Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram.
In the Holosiivskyi district, many residential buildings are heating up lately, as well as 16 medical institutions, 17 schools and thirteen kindergartens, Klitschko said.
The bombing comes a day after Putin challenged the West to a “high-tech duel,” with Kyiv as the proposed scenario.
At his new annual convention on Thursday, Putin responded to those who doubted the functions of the Russian Oreshnik. The hypersonic ballistic missile, which Putin said “virtually eliminates the need for nuclear weapons,” was first used to attack a military-industrial facility. in Dnipro in November.
Responding to “Western experts” who that air defenses can intercept the Oreshnik, Putin said: “Let them propose to us and to the ones in the West and the United States to conduct some type of technological experiment. say, a type of high-tech duel of the 21st century. Let them figure out an object to strike, for example in Kiev, concentrate all their air and missile defense forces there, and we will strike there with the Oreshnik. we will see what happens. We are in a position for such an experience.
“We’re going to conduct an experiment of this type, a technological duel of this type and we’ll see what happens,” he added. “It’s interesting. “
People are dying and he finds it “interesting”. . . Tonto. pic. twitter. com/JyJ9ok0fok
Ukrainian President Volodymy Zelensky responded to threats against X by writing: “People are dying and he thinks it’s ‘interesting’. . . Nonsense**. “
At Thursday’s conference, Putin also encouraged the United States to supply Ukraine with THAAD anti-ballistic missile systems, which were provided to Israel in mid-October following an Iranian attack.
“I don’t know if they [THAAD] are in Ukraine or not, in my opinion, no. If the Americans want to hand them over, let them do it,” the Russian president said.
“We can see what can be said to our guys in Ukraine and ask ourselves if there are technical answers that are attractive to us,” he added.
Wladimir Klitschko, former boxer and brother of Kyiv mayor Vitali, via X: “Kyiv this morning. Like every morning in #Ukraine the inhabitants are awakened not by the sun, but by the sound of the bombs and the cries of the victims. For almost three years, our morning routine has been one of mourning. We must stop this savagery and neutralize Putin’s Russia. NOW.”
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, via Telegram on Friday morning: “The Western public is dumbfounded by the statement about a hypothetical technological duel using the Russian ‘Oreshnik’ and NATO missile defense using the example of some facility in Kyiv. Statements are heard ‘how is this possible,’ ‘this is unacceptable’ … Really? Every day Western leaders talk about strikes ‘deep into Russia.’ And no one in these countries faints from such statements, does not remember the law and international law, humanity and human rights.”
A humanitarian headquarters has been deployed in the Holosiivskyi district to deal with those injured in the latest attack, Kyiv’s City Administration recently announced.
On Dec. 11, State Department deputy spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters that Russia could deploy the experimental missile for a second time “in the coming days,” but it is unclear whether such an attack will be carried out or used against Kyiv, as Putin has done. indicated. suggested.
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Hugh Cameron is Newsweek Live News Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on international politics, conflict, and crime. Hugh joined Newsweek in 2024, having worked at Alliance News Ltd where he specialised in covering global and regional business developments, economic news, and market trends. He graduated from the University of Warwick with a bachelor’s degree in politics in 2022, and from the University of Cambridge with a master’s degree in international relations in 2023. Languages: English. You can get in touch with Hugh by emailing [email protected]