Russian strikes on Kyiv killed at least one person, authorities said on Thursday, after the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, issued a warning ahead of Moscow launching another massive attack.
“Sadly, one death has been confirmed,” the Kyiv city military administration announced. Kyiv mayor, Vitali Klitschko, reported fires in several districts of the city. Earlier, he posted: “The enemy is attacking the capital with ballistic weapons. The threat of further attack remains present. Stay in shelters!”
Elsewhere, residential buildings in the western city of Lviv were damaged by Russian air attacks, mayor Andriy Sadovyi said on Telegram, citing preliminary reports and asking people to seek shelter.
Late on Wednesday, Zelenskyy had posted: “The Russians prepared a massive attack several days ago, and there is a high probability that the strike will be carried out tonight … Please, in all regions of Ukraine, pay attention to air raid alerts today and stay safe.”
As the attack on Kyiv took place, Poland, which shares a border with Ukraine, protectively scrambled fighter jets to protect its airspace, its armed forces said.
“Fighter aircraft and an early warning aircraft have begun operations while ground-based air defence systems and radar reconnaissance systems have reached a state of readiness.”
Zelenskyy also repeated his request to Ukraine’s allies to supply Kyiv with the missiles its air defence system lacks. “It is important that our partners fully understand what is happening and that the protection of people’s lives depends directly on their willingness, or lack of willingness, to provide air defence missiles.”
Meanwhile in Russia, a warehouse of online retailer Wildberries in the western city of Penza caught fire from a Ukrainian drone attack, said the regional governor, Oleg Melnichenko. One person was injured and around 200 people were evacuated from the site, he added.
With Reuters and Agence France-Presse
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