Ukraine's air command reported that Russia attacked the country with 9 Iskander cruise missiles, 4 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, and 810 suicide drones with decoys.
Ukrainian air defenses shot down or jammed 747 drones and 4 Iskander-K missiles. The remaining 9 missiles and 54 drones hit 33 locations, with debris falling in 8 areas.
This was Russia's largest missile and drone attack on Ukraine since the war began.
An AFP reporter at the scene described a large fire erupting from the roof of the Cabinet of Ministers building, the main government building in Kiev's Pecherskyi district. Helicopters were deployed to douse the flames while emergency responders arrived. This was the first time the building had been attacked since the start of the conflict.
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Fire at the main Ukrainian government building on 7/9. Photo: AFP |
Fire at the main Ukrainian government building on 7/9. Photo: AFP
"The roof and upper floors were damaged by the enemy attack. Rescuers are extinguishing the fire," Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said. "We will repair the building, but we cannot bring back the lost lives."
Russian drones also hit other high-rise buildings in Kiev. An attack on a 9-story apartment building in the western part of the city killed at least two people and injured more than 10, according to local officials.
"These deadly attacks, which occurred at a time when real diplomatic efforts could have begun long ago, are deliberate crimes and will prolong the conflict," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has not commented on the information.
Russia’s large-scale attack comes as more than 20 European countries pledged to monitor a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine after the war ends, with some nations prepared to deploy troops on the ground.
Kiev said that security guarantees from the presence of Western troops are key to preventing future attacks by Moscow. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the presence of Western troops in Ukraine unacceptable, adding that they would become "legitimate" targets.
Pham Giang (AFP, Reuters)
