Kyiv: Explosions rocked Kyiv early Wednesday as Russia launched its first missile attack on Ukraine’s capital since August. With air raid sirens blaring, elderly citizens and children hurried to underground metro stations for shelter.
According to Ukraine’s air force, air defenses intercepted two cruise missiles, two ballistic missiles, and 37 drones across the country, averting casualties and significant damage in Kyiv. “Putin is launching a missile attack on Kyiv right now,” stated Andriy Yermak, head of the president’s office, on Telegram.
However, falling debris outside Kyiv injured a 48-year-old man and sparked a fire at a warehouse, reported the head of Kyiv region’s administration. For weeks, Kyiv has faced almost nightly drone assaults, and on Wednesday morning, Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that a drone continued to hover over central Kyiv. “Explosions in the city. Air defense forces are working. Stay in shelters!” Kyiv’s city administration urged residents on Telegram.
In response to the attack, around 100 residents, including small children and elderly citizens, took refuge in the central metro station, Universitet. Many expressed frustration with the lack of rest due to frequent alerts. “The mornings are totally ruined,” shared Mykyta, a college student sheltering with his dog. “Every morning has been ruined by the bloody Russians. I cannot sleep, cannot think, and I drink energy drinks all the time.”
Anticipated Missile Strikes Amid Power Grid Concerns
Earlier this year, Russian strikes targeted Ukraine’s power infrastructure, causing widespread blackouts. Although the situation improved over recent months, Ukrainian officials remain wary of a potential large-scale attack on the grid. Andrii Kovalenko, a senior official at the National Security and Defense Council, warned of Russia’s readiness for another “massive” assault, having reportedly accumulated a substantial stockpile of cruise missiles.
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Following Wednesday’s strike, power grid operator Ukrenergo announced electricity supply restrictions for businesses due to reduced power imports and generation. DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private power distributor, confirmed the restrictions would impact Kyiv and surrounding regions, as well as Odesa, Dnipro, and Donetsk. These restrictions mark the first since August 26, when a major Russian missile and drone attack deployed over 200 projectiles, leaving seven people dead, Ukraine said.
