Fresh Russian Missile Strikes on Kyiv Kill At Least Nine, Injure 28

At least nine people have been killed and 28 injured in Russian ballistic missile strikes on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, local authorities said on Saturday. The attack, which took place in the morning, triggered fires and power cuts across the city, according to the State Emergency Service.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that the capital had come under a ballistic missile attack. The AFP news agency reported more than 10 explosions in the city. Emergency services were dispatched to multiple locations, including residential areas, to rescue people trapped under debris.

In a statement, the State Emergency Service said at least seven people were killed and 14 injured, including two children, in a strike in the Darnytskyi district. Another two people died and eight were injured, including two children, in the Solomyanskyi district, where a five-storey residential building was partially destroyed. Officials also said a residential building in the Shevchenkivskyi district was partially destroyed, with people inside.

Saturday's strikes are part of a recent escalation in Russian missile attacks on Kyiv, which has frequently been targeted during the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that missile interceptors are urgently needed to defend against such attacks, and has repeatedly appealed to Western allies for more advanced air defence systems.

The attack came two days after a suspected Russian cruise missile landed in Poland during a widespread attack on Ukraine that killed at least eight people, including six members of one family. The incident in Poland, a NATO member state, has drawn international concern and prompted calls for restraint.

Russia has not commented on the latest strikes. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, Russian forces have conducted numerous missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, causing civilian casualties and damage to critical infrastructure. Kyiv has been a regular target, with air defence systems intercepting many projectiles, but not all. The attacks have often forced residents to spend hours in bomb shelters, disrupting daily life.

The United Nations and various international bodies have repeatedly called for the protection of civilians and for adherence to international humanitarian law. The Ukrainian government has urged residents to heed air raid alarms and remain in safety until the threat passes. Civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, has frequently been hit, leading to accusations of indiscriminate attacks, which Russia denies.

Rescue operations are continuing in the affected areas, and the full extent of the damage is not yet known. Officials said that power supply had been partially restored, but some districts remained without electricity.

Saturday's attack has renewed Kyiv's calls for additional Western military support, particularly for air defence systems capable of countering ballistic missiles. Several allied countries have made pledges, but Ukrainian officials say the deliveries have not kept pace with the threat.

The ongoing conflict, now in its third year, shows no signs of abating. Both sides have continued to engage in hostilities, with diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire remaining stalled. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, urging de-escalation and a return to dialogue.