Vladimir Putin’s Russian forces have unleashed a massive drone and missile attack early on Kyiv in what independent monitors say is one of the biggest strikes on Ukraine’s capital and the surrounding region since the war erupted in 2022.
Drones flew over the city and anti-aircraft fire rang out through the night. Kyiv’s military administration said at least two people have been killed and six have been injured.
Poland closed the airspace near two of its southeastern cities and its air force scrambled jets in response. Drones flew over Kyiv and anti-aircraft fire rang out through the night as the attack started at around 6am.
A five-storey building was partially destroyed, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
Ukraine’s foreign minister said hundreds of drones and missiles had been used in the latest wave of attacks across the country.
Andrii Sybiha said: “We must maximise the cost of further escalation for Russia.”
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Russia would not stop with his country which is why it continues to test patience defences with a flood of incursions into countries belonging to the Nato military alliance.
The assault comes hours after Russia’s Foreign Minister and Putin mouthpiece Sergey Lavrov told the United Nations the Kremlin would act aggressively towards Nato and its allies if it was pushed.
He said: “Russia is being accused of almost planning to attack the North Atlantic Alliance and the European Union countries.
President Putin has repeatedly debunked these provocations.
“Russia has never had and does not have any such intentions. However, any aggression against my country will be met with a decisive response. I don’t think I need to remind anyone here how vehemently Russia denied its plans to invade Ukraine before the full-scale war.”
