Russia has launched an airstrike against the Ukrainian capital, following a series of threats from President Vladimir Putin.
The missile strikes took place on Friday morning, and have so far killed “at least one and wounded seven,” according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense via Telegram. The Kyiv City Military Administration later said that the number of injured had risen to 11.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said 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 Russian ballistic missiles and drones were shot down before reaching their target, the General Staff said.
Ukraine has been petitioning its Western backers to provide more air defenses for its major cities, many of which were left without power following the late-November assault on the country’s energy grid.
Although Ukrainian air defense intercepted many missiles in Friday’s attack, it has already caused significant damage in the Ukrainian capital, sparking fires in several areas, and the government urged citizens to stay in shelters.
“As a result of the enemy attack, debris fell in Holosiivskyi, Solomyanskyi, Shevchenkivskyi and Dniprovskyi districts. There are fires—on the roofs of buildings, cars are also burning. A heating main in Holosiivskyi district is also damaged. Emergency services are working everywhere,” Vitali Klitschko, mayor of Kyiv, posted to Telegram.
In the Holosiivskyi district, hundreds of residential buildings are currently without heat, alongside 16 medical institutions, 17 schools and 13 kindergartens, Klitschko said.
The bombing comes a day after Putin challenged the West to a “high-tech duel”, with kyiv as the proposed venue.
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 desire to use nuclear weapons,” was first used to attack a military-industrial facility in Dnipro in November.
Responding to “Western experts” who claim that air defenses can intercept the Oreshnik, Putin said: “Let them propose to us, those in the West and the United States, to carry out some kind of technological experiment. technological duel of the 21st century. Let them find an object to attack, for example in kyiv, concentrate all their air and missile defense forces there, and we will attack there with the Oreshnik. We will see what happens for such an experience.
“We will do this experiment, this technological duel and see what happens,” he added. “It’s interesting. “
People are dying, and he thinks it’s “interesting”… Dumbass. pic.twitter.com/JyJ9ok0fok
Ukrainian President Volodymy Zelensky responded to the 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 [THAAD] is in Ukraine or not, in my opinion not. If the Americans hand them over, let them do it,” said the Russian president.
“We can see what can be said to our guys in Ukraine and ask if there are attractive technical answers for 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, a spokeswoman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, said via Telegram on Friday morning: “The Western public is stunned at the idea of a hypothetical technological duel that will employ the Russian Oreshnik missile defense system and NATO taking a facility in Kiev as an example. Listen: “how is it possible”, “this is unacceptable”. . . Actually, every day, Western leaders communicate about movements “deep within Russia, which do not faint at such times. “declarations, does not forget the law and foreign 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 a Newsweek Live News reporter based in London, United Kingdom. It focuses on foreign policy, conflict and crime. Hugh joined Newsweek in 2024, having previously worked at Alliance News Ltd, where he specialized in covering global and regional business developments. economic news and market trends. He graduated from the University of Warwick with a BA in Politics in 2022 and from the University of Cambridge with an MA in International Relations in 2023. Languages: English. You can contact Hugh by emailing h. cameron@newsweek. com