Russia launched missile strikes on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and several other cities in the early hours of Thursday, killing at least seven people. Notably, the attack came just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky returned from a visit to the United States, where he had warned that Russia was preparing to carry out a large-scale assault.
Six killed in Kryvyi Rih, one dead in Kyiv
Six people were killed and eight others injured when a Russian Iskander-M ballistic missile struck Kryvyi Rih, President Zelensky's home town. Among the dead were two young girls, aged five and twelve. Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city's defence council, said the missile had been fired from Russia's Voronezh region, roughly 250 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, and had struck the home of a large family. Rescue operations to clear the debris are ongoing, and the death toll is expected to rise.
Air raid sirens sounded across much of Ukraine during the attacks. Russia also targeted Kyiv, where several explosions were reported. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that a number of non-residential buildings had caught fire. Emergency services confirmed that one person was killed and two others injured in the capital.
Lviv, close to the Polish border, was also targeted. Russian missiles damaged two apartment blocks, with officials reporting 15 people injured. Rescue teams are working to free people trapped under the rubble.
Poland on high alert
Meanwhile, Poland, a member of both the European Union and NATO, has tightened its security measures amid the Russian air strikes. The country has placed fighter jets, early warning aircraft, ground-based air defence systems and radar surveillance on high alert to protect its airspace. The Polish military said the move was a precautionary measure.
Ukraine strikes Wildberries warehouse in Russia
In response, Ukraine carried out a drone strike on the Russian city of Penza, targeting a warehouse belonging to Wildberries, Russia's leading online retail company. Regional governor Oleg Melnichenko said the warehouse caught fire following the strike, with one person injured. Around 200 people were safely evacuated from the site.