Powerful explosions echoed across Kyiv on Monday as Ukrainian air defence systems intercepted a wave of incoming Russian projectiles in an uncommon daytime assault on the capital.
Journalists on the ground reported seeing flashes in the sky and thick plumes of smoke as air defence batteries engaged targets overhead, while residents rushed for shelter during the morning commute.
The attack also extended to Kharkiv, where local authorities said bombardment damaged transport infrastructure and left at least one person injured. The city’s mayor confirmed that emergency crews were deployed to affected areas as strikes continued.
Officials in Kyiv said debris from intercepted drones fell in two districts of the capital, prompting emergency responders to move quickly to the scene. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said no immediate casualties were recorded in the capital.
Ukraine’s air force had earlier warned residents of a high-speed aerial threat approaching Kyiv from the north, heightening fears of a broader missile strike.
The renewed assault comes amid intensified long-range drone and missile attacks by Russia in recent months, with critical energy facilities frequently among key targets.
Meanwhile, authorities in Moscow said Russian air defence units intercepted roughly 250 Ukrainian drones approaching the city in recent days, according to Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
In southern Kherson, a 67-year-old man was reportedly wounded when a Russian drone struck his vehicle, while additional casualties were recorded in Zaporizhzhia, where three civilians were injured in separate attacks.
The war, triggered by Russian invasion of Ukraine, remains the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II, with massive civilian displacement and heavy military losses continuing on both sides.
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