The death toll in Russia's attack on Kiev has risen to 24 dead. A rocket destroyed a block of flats
At least 24 people were killed, including three children, after a missile and drone attack on Kiev overnight Thursday into Friday. Ukrainian authorities say the death toll could rise as rescue teams continue to search for survivors under the rubble of a stricken block of flats in the Darnitsky district, the Kyiv Post reports.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 675 drones and 56 missiles at Ukraine, with the main target being Kiev. Ukraine's air defense systems managed to intercept 652 drones, representing a success rate of 94%, respectively 41 missiles, which is about 73%.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his daily nightly speech that rescue operations were continuing in the capital, where a Russian missile almost completely destroyed a block of flats.
“Interventions continue in Kyiv at the site where a residential building was hit by a Russian missile. The first to ninth floors were literally destroyedZelensky said.
Rescue crews are still looking for people trapped under the rubble, the authorities announced at a time when 10 people were confirmed dead, and the number of injured rose to 45. The Emergency Situations Service of Ukraine later confirmed that the toll had risen to 21, including three children.
The police announced that seven bodies were recovered from the rubble of a destroyed block of flats: three men, three women and a girl. About 400 people needed psychological assistance.
Rescue dogs have checked around 2,800 square meters of land, and more than 3,000 cubic meters of debris have been removed so far.
Another 47 people, including two children, were injured in the massive missile and drone attack, part of a wave of bombings held for two days over several regions of Ukraine.
Zelensky stated that Russia had carried out a “almost non-stop air attack”in which more than 1,500 drones and 56 missiles of various types were launched.
“Most of our regions were hit: from Transcarpathia to Kharkiv region. Ivano-Frankivsk, Rivne, Volyn, Odesa, Poltava and Sumy regions were affected. Dozens of people were injured and, unfortunately, there are also dead“, the Ukrainian leader said, sending condolences to the families of the victims.
The Ukrainian president said authorities were trying to determine exactly what types of weapons were used. According to preliminary data, the missile that hit the Kiev block would have been a Kh-101 manufactured in the second quarter of this year.
Zelenskiy noted that this detail is a clear sign that Russia continues to import components and equipment necessary for the production of missiles, bypassing international sanctions. He called on Western partners to step up measures to block these networks and stressed that sanctions against Moscow must be tightened.
Russia said the attacks targeted military targets and energy infrastructure used by the Ukrainian military.
They also resulted in casualties in Odesa, Kherson and Kharkiv regions. At the same time, Zelenski accused the Russian army of deliberately targeting a vehicle of a UN humanitarian mission in Kherson.
“Russian drones attacked a vehicle of one of the UN humanitarian missions in Kherson today. Deliberately. Fortunately, no one was injured”he declared.
The new wave of bombings comes just days after a three-day ceasefire negotiated by US President Donald Trump between Kiev and Moscow.
“These are not the actions of people who believe the war is coming to an end. It is important that our partners do not remain silent in the face of this attack.”concluded Zelensky.
