- Russian missile attack on Kyiv injured at least three people early Sunday.
- Air alerts were triggered across all of Ukraine.
- Poland scrambled its aircraft due to the attack’s proximity to its border.
- Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko urged residents to stay in shelters.
- Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy expressed disappointment with the US embassy’s response to previous attacks.
Russian Missile Strike Hits Kyiv, Injuring Three and Setting Off Nationwide Air Alert
Kyiv, Ukraine – At least three people were injured in Kyiv early on Sunday following a Russian missile attack, according to the mayor and military administration of the Ukrainian capital. The attack triggered air alerts across the entire country, with Ukraine’s air force warning of incoming missiles, including towards regions bordering Poland. This prompted the NATO member to take precautionary measures by scrambling its aircraft to ensure air safety.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported fires in at least three districts of the city via a Telegram post. He added that medics hospitalized two civilians from the Darnytskyi district, located on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River. “Do not leave shelters!” Klitschko urged residents.
The extent of the damage from the attack is still being assessed, and there were no immediate reports of strikes or damage in western Ukrainian regions bordering Poland. Poland has remained vigilant about its airspace since a stray Ukrainian missile incident in 2022. The country typically activates its jets whenever Russian missiles target Ukrainian areas close to its borders.
Zelenskyy Criticizes US Embassy Response to Earlier Attack
This latest attack follows a previous Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s hometown, which resulted in the deaths of at least 18 people, including nine children. Zelenskyy has publicly expressed his disappointment with the response from the US embassy in Kyiv to that earlier attack.
In a post on X, Zelenskyy noted that while several embassies in Kyiv had condemned Friday’s attack and explicitly blamed Russia, the US embassy’s message did not mention Russia. He wrote, “Unfortunately, the response from the U.S. Embassy is surprisingly disappointing – such a strong country, such a strong people, and yet such a weak reaction. They are afraid to even say the word ‘Russian’ when speaking about the missile that murdered children.”
US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink had posted on X about the Kryvyi Rih strike, stating she was “Horrified that tonight a ballistic missile struck near a playground and restaurant in Kryvyi Rih. More than 50 people injured and 16 killed, including 6 children. This is why the war must end.”
Ongoing Conflict and International Reactions
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy met with the leaders of the British and French armed forces in Kyiv on Saturday to discuss the potential deployment of a multinational peacekeeping force to Ukraine. He hailed “tangible progress” in these discussions.
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russian forces launched 92 drones into Ukraine overnight on Saturday, with 51 being shot down. An additional 31 decoy drones also failed to reach their targets.
Following the Sunday missile attack on Kyiv, President Zelenskyy reiterated that the ongoing attacks demonstrate Russia’s unwillingness to end the war. He stated on Telegram, “Such attacks are Putin’s response to all international diplomatic efforts. Each of our partners – America, the whole of Europe, the whole world – has seen that Russia is going to continue to fight and kill.”
Zelenskyy also announced that he had instructed the defense and foreign ministers to intensify talks with partners, particularly the US, regarding the supply of air defense equipment. He further noted that over the past week, Russia had launched over 1,460 guided aerial bombs, nearly 670 attack drones, and more than 30 missiles of various types against Ukraine.