Russian missile strike on Kyiv kills at least nine

At least nine people were killed and 23 injured in a large Russian ballistic missile attack on Kyiv overnight, ERR reported, citing The Kyiv Independent.

The injured included boys aged 17 and 13. Explosions caused fires and extensive damage in several districts of the Ukrainian capital, damaging residential buildings, warehouses and other structures. People were trapped under rubble in several locations.

Ukrainian authorities continued rescue operations and warned that the number of dead and injured could rise. The full extent of the damage was not yet clear.

Explosions were heard in the city at about 1:33 a.m. local time. Ukraine’s Air Force warned that several ballistic missiles were heading towards Kyiv. Further explosions followed at about 2:16 a.m. and 3:20 a.m.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko urged residents to take shelter immediately, warning that Russia was attacking the city with ballistic missiles.

The attack came two days after Russia’s previous large-scale air attack on Ukraine and was the second major missile strike against the country within 48 hours.