Russia unleashed an intense overnight bombardment of ballistic missiles and drone swarms on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, wounding at least 11 civilians and damaging critical infrastructure, according to local authorities.
The complex assault, launched early Saturday, highlights the escalating threat to Kyiv’s airspace as defenders ration depleted air defense stocks while awaiting Western military aid. Local news outlet Euromaidan Press reported that initial explosions echoed through the city center at 3:38 a.m. (00:38 GMT), nearly two minutes before air raid sirens were activated at 3:40 a.m., leaving residents virtually no time to seek cover.
The Ukrainian Air Force stated that Russia deployed six Iskander-M or S-400 ballistic missiles from the Bryansk region, along with six tactical cruise missiles and 121 drones. Defense units shot down 111 drones and two cruise missiles, but all six ballistic targets breached the perimeter.
Domestic media reported that air defense teams have been forced to switch sophisticated Patriot missile batteries into manual operational modes to conserve dwindling interceptor stocks.
The attacks triggered severe structural fires and localized devastation. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed via social media that casualties included an 11-year-old boy, with four of the wounded requiring emergency hospitalization.
“A transformer substation is on fire in the Darnytskyi district, and a three-storey office building is burning in the Solomianskyi district,” Klitschko said on Telegram.
Ukrainska Pravda reported that a railway locomotive was heavily damaged by the blast wave, while nearby commercial warehouses and a pharmacy suffered significant structural failure. Outside the city, emergency personnel used specialized fire trains to contain a massive 4,000-square-meter blaze at a regional infrastructure facility.
The weekend assault follows a sharp escalation in Russian aerial operations targeting the capital since the start of July. According to local authorities, recent attacks across Kyiv and its metropolitan area have killed more than 60 people since early July.
Beyond the capital, the Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that Russia’s nationwide missile and drone campaign struck at least 11 infrastructure sites across the country.
Source: www.aljazeera.com