Written by Vladyslav Smilianets and Gleb Garanich
KYIV (Reuters) – Russian forces fired a drone and a combination of missiles at the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early on Saturday, killing three people in the central region, officials said.
Explosions erupted in the sky before dawn as air defenses repelled the attack, which also wounded three others, according to the city’s military commander Timur Tkachenko.
A shopping mall, a business center, a municipal station and a water pipe were also damaged, he said.
“The Russian military first launched drones and then fired,” wrote parliamentarian Dmytro Lubinets on social media. “These actions only emphasize the brutality and barbarism of the enemy.”
Rescuers entered a flooded road while sifting through debris. The charred remains of the van could be seen in front of the station, its face covered in twisted metal and blown out windows.
At dawn, they were seen inspecting the missile fragments and loading the body bag into the truck.
Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat told Ukrainian media that both missiles aimed at Kyiv were destroyed, but one of them was shot down and landed on the ground, causing significant damage.
There was no immediate comment from Moscow, which has denied deliberately targeting civilians.
Russia also attacked the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, where the regional governor said 10 people were injured and the offices of an industrial center were damaged.
The Ukrainian military said it destroyed 24 of the 39 drones and two of the four missiles launched by Russia in various parts of Ukraine during the overnight raid.
On Friday, a Russian missile strike in Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, killed four people and destroyed an educational institution, officials said.
“All those who help the Russian regime in this war must face pressure as impactful as these strikes,” Zelenskiy wrote on social media in response to Saturday’s attack.
Russia has carried out routine airstrikes on remote towns and villages since the start of its nearly three-year invasion of Ukraine, targeting key infrastructure in particular.
