Russia launched a drone strike on Kyiv early Wednesday, kicking off the New Year with a rather somber mood for the Ukrainian capital. Local authorities said the attack killed two people, left at least six others injured, and caused massive damage to buildings in two districts.
Bombards filled the dawn Kyiv air with explosions amid announcements from Ukraine’s air force to expect attack drones. Its mayor, Vitali Klitschko, declared air defenses at work targeting the attack. State Emergency reported partially destroyed flats of a nine-floor residential high-rise in downtown Kyiv where it shared its photo report depicting fighting flames amid firefighting; others rescued some older victims among people there when falling drone wreckage caused damage even to one National Bank of Ukraine’s buildings.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack on social media, accusing Russia of prioritizing harm to Ukraine even during the festive season. Ukrainian forces claimed to have shot down 63 out of 111 drones launched by Russia overnight, with another 46 neutralized through electronic jamming. Separately, shelling by Russian forces killed a volunteer worker in the southern city of Kherson, underscoring the ongoing toll of the nearly three-year-long conflict.
