KYIV, Dec 20: A Russian ballistic missile strike on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, early Friday resulted in one fatality and nine injuries, according to officials. Moscow asserted that the attack was a retaliation for a Ukrainian missile launched at Russian territory using American-made weapons.
Reports indicated at least three loud explosions in Kyiv shortly before dawn. The Ukrainian air force confirmed that it intercepted five Iskander short-range ballistic missiles aimed at the city. The assault caused heating outages in 630 residential buildings, 16 medical facilities, and 30 schools and kindergartens, as stated by the city administration, with falling debris leading to damage and fires in three districts.
The air force urged citizens to heed warnings about potential ballistic threats, emphasizing the urgent need for shelter.
Since the onset of the war nearly three years ago, Russia has frequently targeted civilian areas in Ukraine, often aiming to disrupt the power grid and instill fear among the population.
As Ukraine battles to fend off Russia’s larger military forces at the front lines, it has also sought to strike Russian infrastructure that supports the wartime efforts.
The Russian Ministry of Defence explained that their missile strike was a response to a Ukrainian attack on the Rostov region two days prior, which involved six American-made Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles and four UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles.
Ukraine claimed that this operation targeted an oil refinery in Rostov, as part of its ongoing effort to hit Russian infrastructures.
The Kremlin has been angered by Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied weaponry against Russia. Notably, on November 19, Ukraine utilized American-supplied long-range missiles for the first time after the U.S. relaxed restrictions on such arms.
In response to the Ukrainian assault on Rostov, the Defence Ministry stated that it executed a group strike using “high-precision, long-range weapons” aimed at Ukraine’s military intelligence command center and production sites for Neptune missile systems.
The attack also focused on Ukrainian cruise missile systems and U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems, with the Defence Ministry asserting, “The objectives of the strike have been achieved. All targets hit,” though these claims remain unverified. (AP)
