Russian forces simultaneously attacked the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv, Chernihiv and Odesa overnight, causing casualties, extensive damage and alarm among residents.
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According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (DSNS), residential buildings and warehouses were hit in various parts of the capital. A children’s hospital and a school were also damaged in the attacks.
The reported toll was at least 13 dead and around 40 injured. Russia’s Ministry of Defense stated that the attacks involved weapons launched from the air, land and sea, also claiming that 726 Ukrainian drones had been shot down.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky linked the loss of life to a lack of missiles for air defense, which Ukraine receives from its Western allies.
“As long as Ukraine does not have enough ballistic missile defense systems, Russia will not seriously consider peace,” Zelensky wrote on social media.
Air raid alerts were activated across Kyiv around midnight local time. Later, around 20 Russian missiles struck targets inside the city, while thousands of properties were left without electricity and several areas of the Kyiv region were plunged into darkness.
Volodymyr Zelensky announced that in the Odesa region, drones struck a border crossing with Moldova. In the Chernihiv region, the target of the attack was gas infrastructure.
“I thank all the rescue workers, doctors, police officers and emergency service teams who came to the residents’ aid from the very first moments,” the Ukrainian president stated.
Friday was declared a day of mourning in honor of those who lost their lives in the overnight attacks.
