Russia has launched an aerial assault on the Ukrainian capital, following a series of threats from President Vladimir Putin.
The missile moves took position on Friday morning and have so far left “at least one dead and seven wounded”, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence Telegram. The Kyiv town army management later said the number of wounded had risen to 11.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that Russia introduced an Iskander ballistic missile from the Rostov region, as well as a Kh-59/69 guided missile and 65 Shahed attack drones.
Five ballistic missiles and 40 Russian drones were shot down before reaching their target, the general said.
Ukraine has called on its Western backers to supply more air defenses to its main cities, many of which have lost power following last November’s planned attack on the country’s power grid.
Although Ukrainian air defenses intercepted missiles during Friday’s attack, they have already caused significant damage in the Ukrainian capital, setting fires in several areas, and the government urged citizens to stay in shelters.
“As a result of the enemy attack, debris fell in Holosiivskyi, Solomyanskyi, Shevchenkivskyi and Dniprovskyi districts. There are fires—on the roofs of buildings, cars are also burning. A heating main in Holosiivskyi district is also damaged. Emergency services are working everywhere,” Vitali Klitschko, mayor of Kyiv, posted to Telegram.
In the Holosiivskyi district, many residential buildings, as well as 16 medical centers, 17 schools and 13 kindergartens, said Klitschko.
The bombing comes a day after Putin challenged the West to a “high-tech duel,” with Kyiv as the proposed scenario.
At his new annual convention on Thursday, Putin responded to those who doubted the functions of the Russian Oreshnik. The hypersonic ballistic missile, which Putin said “virtually eliminates the need for nuclear weapons,” was first used to attack a military-industrial facility. in Dnipro in November.
Responding to “Western experts” who claim that air defenses can intercept the Oreshnik, Putin said: “Let them propose to us, those in the West and the United States, to carry out some kind of technological experiment. technological duel of the 21st century. Let them find an object to attack, for example in kyiv, concentrate all their air and missile defense forces there, and we will attack there with the Oreshnik. We will see what happens for such an experience.
“We will conduct such an experiment, such a technological duel and see what happens,” he added. “It’s interesting.”
People are dying, and he thinks it’s “interesting”… Dumbass. pic.twitter.com/JyJ9ok0fok
Ukrainian President Volodymy Zelensky responded to threats against X by writing: “People are dying, and he thinks it’s ‘interesting’. . . Dumb**. “
During the Thursday conference, Putin also encouraged the U.S. to provide Ukraine with a THAAD anti-ballistic missile systems, the kind provided to Israel in mid-October following an attack by Iran.
“I don’t know if they [THAAD] are in Ukraine or not, in my opinion, no. If the Americans want to hand them over, let them do it,” the Russian president said.
“We can see what our boys can learn in Ukraine and ask if there are valuable technical solutions for us,” he added.
Wladimir Klitschko, former boxer and brother of Kyiv Mayor Vitali, via X: “Kyiv this morning. Like every morning in #Ucrania, the population does not wake up to the sun, but to the sound of bombs and the screams of the Victims. For almost 3 years, our morning regimen has been in mourning. We will have to prevent this savagery and neutralize Putin’s Russia NOW. “
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, via Telegram on Friday morning: “The Western public is dumbfounded by the statement about a hypothetical technological duel using the Russian ‘Oreshnik’ and NATO missile defense using the example of some facility in Kyiv. Statements are heard ‘how is this possible,’ ‘this is unacceptable’ … Really? Every day Western leaders talk about strikes ‘deep into Russia.’ And no one in these countries faints from such statements, does not remember the law and international law, humanity and human rights.”
A humanitarian headquarters has been deployed in the Holosiivskyi district to care for those injured in the latest attack, the kyiv city administration recently announced.
On December 11, State Department deputy spokesperson Sabrina Singh told reporters that Russia could deploy the experimental missile for a second time “in the coming days,” though it is unclear whether such a strike will take place or be used to target Kyiv, as Putin has suggested.
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Hugh Cameron is a Newsweek Live News journalist based in London, United Kingdom. It focuses on foreign policy, confrontations and crime. Hugh joined Newsweek in 2024, having previously worked at Alliance News Ltd, where he specialized in covering global and regional business developments, business news and market trends. He graduated from the University of Warwick with a BA in Politics in 2022 and from the University of Cambridge with an MA in International Relations in 2023. Languages: English. You can contact Hugh by emailing h. cameron@newsweek. com