KYIV: Another night of fear and destruction unfolded near Ukraine’s capital as Russian missile strikes killed at least three people, including a child, and wounded others on Saturday, with explosions shaking areas around Kyiv and leaving buildings, vehicles and infrastructure damaged.
The overnight attacks targeted areas east of Kyiv in the early hours, marking another deadly escalation after recent strikes across Ukraine claimed dozens of lives. Ukrainian officials said emergency teams rushed to affected areas as fires broke out and rescue operations continued.
Timur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv regional military administration, said falling debris from the strikes damaged apartment buildings and cars, while a separate building was set on fire. He confirmed that three people were injured in the ballistic missile attack.
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said emergency services were deployed to battle fires at a building and a fuel storage facility. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (DSNS) also shared images of damaged sites, including burning garages, businesses and other structures, while officials continued assessing the full scale of the damage.
Read More: Deadly Russian strikes hit Kyiv, leaving dozens injured
The strikes came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Belgrade, Serbia, for talks aimed at strengthening international support for Ukraine amid concerns over its ability to counter Russian missile attacks.
Zelensky has repeatedly warned that delays in receiving air defence systems from allies have left Ukraine more vulnerable, saying stronger missile interception capabilities could have prevented casualties during recent attacks.
He said deliveries of interceptors from partner countries had significantly decreased this year, creating additional challenges for Ukraine’s defence efforts.
During his visit to Serbia, Zelensky was scheduled to meet President Aleksandar Vučić to discuss security matters, economic relations and Ukraine’s ties with the European Union.
While Serbia has supported Ukraine through humanitarian assistance and reconstruction commitments, it has avoided joining Western sanctions against Russia.
The latest wave of attacks follows the collapse of recent mediation efforts, with both Russia and Ukraine continuing military operations. Kyiv has also targeted Russian oil facilities and vessels linked to Moscow, saying the strikes aim to reduce funding for Russia’s war effort.
The continued exchange of attacks highlights the growing difficulty of achieving a diplomatic breakthrough as the conflict enters another critical phase.
