Explosions began in Kyiv immediately after an airstrike was declared in the city. The Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that they had destroyed two ballistic missiles flying from occupied Crimea.
Eyewitnesses report at least four explosions, huge columns of smoke are visible over the city. It is already known about the destruction of a multi-storey non-residential building and at least five injuries.
“Explosions in the capital. Urgently take cover!” – Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko first wrote.
“I heard the explosions about a second after the siren,” said BBC Ukraine correspondent in Kyiv, Georgy Erman. These words are confirmed by other eyewitnesses.
Such a strike on Kyiv without an alarm at least a minute before the strike happened, perhaps not for the first time. Previously, with strikes with "daggers" or other ballistic missiles, at least half a minute or a minute passed from the moment of the alarm to the strike.
Telegram channels, which usually specialize in alarms, suggest that the strike could have been carried out from the coastal missile complex “Bastion” with “Onyx” missiles from Crimea. There are also assumptions about the “Zircon” missiles, which have already been used to strike Kyiv before during combined strikes. It is ballistic and has already been launched at Kyiv from Crimea.
The Air Force does not yet know what kind of ballistic missiles they were. “The type is being determined,” their statement said.
“According to preliminary information, as a result of a missile attack on Kyiv, debris was recorded falling in the Pechersk district. A non-residential building was damaged. Emergency services are following the scene of the incident,” the Kyiv City Military Administration reported.
They clarified that a multi-story building in the Pechersk district was significantly damaged.
Klitschko confirmed that a three-story non-residential building was destroyed.
PHOTO AUTHOR, REUTERS Photo caption, A completely destroyed three-story building in Pechersk. Judging by what remains of the walls, there was a gym inside
PHOTO AUTHOR, REUTERS The mayor reported five injured in Pechersk. One woman and a 16-year-old girl were hospitalized.
Vitaliy Klitschko added that there were calls from emergency services to the Pechersky, Solomyansky, and Dniprovsky districts of the capital. There was also falling debris there.
Rocket debris was also found in a forest belt in the Holosiivskyi district of Kyiv. No information was previously available regarding casualties or damage.
PHOTO AUTHOR, MYKOLA KALASHNYK
The last time Kyiv experienced a massive missile strike was last night, when all the missiles were shot down and there was no significant damage.
The head of the Darnytsia district administration, Mykola Kalashnyk, reported that in the Darnytsia district, a private house in the Osokorky neighborhood was damaged by shrapnel after a rocket attack - without further fire.
