Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, came under what officials described as a “mass ballistic missile attack” early Sunday, triggering powerful explosions across the city and sending residents scrambling for safety.
Military authorities said multiple districts were affected, as blasts rocked residential areas and emergency response teams were deployed across the capital.
“The capital has come under a mass ballistic missile attack,” Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said in a statement posted on Telegram.
According to Tkachenko, at least four locations were impacted, including the Shevchenkivsky, Dniprovsky, and Podilsky districts. Preliminary reports indicated fires and damage to residential buildings.
AFP journalists in Kyiv reported hearing loud explosions, with one residential building near the government district visibly shaking from the force of the blasts. Dozens of residents sought refuge in underground metro stations as authorities urged civilians to remain in shelters.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that emergency medical teams had been dispatched to affected areas. He noted that debris had fallen in parts of the Podilsky district, while a fire broke out near a residential building in the nearby Shevchenkivsky district, damaging windows and surrounding structures.
Officials also warned that the situation remained ongoing, citing continued threats from both missile and drone attacks.
“A strike drone attack is ongoing; the ballistic missile threat remains present. Stay in shelters,” Tkachenko said.
The attack follows heightened tensions after Russia warned of possible retaliation for recent Ukrainian strikes in the east. On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cautioned that a significant Russian air assault could be imminent, potentially involving advanced weapons such as the Oreshnik missile, which is capable of carrying nuclear payloads.
As emergency crews continue to assess the damage, authorities have not yet released details on casualties. Residents have been advised to remain vigilant as the threat of further strikes persists.
