Russian Missile Strikes on Kyiv Claim 9 Lives

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that at least nine people have lost their lives in the latest Russian ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv. The strikes, which were launched overnight, have also left many more injured and caused significant damage to residential buildings, schools, and infrastructure facilities.

According to Zelensky, the strikes were part of a larger attack that saw 35 missiles launched at Ukraine, including 27 ballistic missiles and 185 attack drones. Kyiv was the primary target, but strikes also hit the Dnipro, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Poltava regions.

In a post on X, Zelensky shared details of the damage, stating that 18 residential buildings, a school, the Lithuanian Embassy, and infrastructure facilities were affected. He also highlighted the bravery of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, who successfully hit the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

Ukraine Strikes Back: Sinks Russian Container Ship

Ukraine has also struck back at Russia, sinking a Russian-owned container ship in the Black Sea. The ship, which was sailing under the Russian flag and had a capacity of over 100,000 tons, was carrying civilian goods including frozen food and construction materials.

According to Rosatom, the Russian Atomic Energy Corporation, which owns the ship, all 17 crew members were rescued and were in a satisfactory condition. However, the CEO of Rosatom, Alexey Likhachev, has condemned the attack, calling it piracy and robbery.

Casualties and Damage

The attacks have left a trail of destruction and loss of life in their wake. In the Darnytskyi district, at least seven people were killed and 14 injured in a strike, while in the Solomyanskyi district, two people died and eight were injured, including two children. A five-story residential building was partially destroyed, officials said.

A missile also landed near the Lithuanian Embassy, breaking windows and scattering debris in the compound. The Lithuanian foreign ministry has vowed to summon the Russian representative in Vilnius and seek compensation for the damage.

The attacks come as tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to escalate. President Zelensky has asked for help from the international community, particularly in the form of access to the Patriot interceptor missiles.

However, US President Donald Trump has expressed reservations about providing Ukraine with the technology, citing concerns about the potential for it to be used against the US in the future.

‘We have not agreed to that. We’re talking about it, but it’s a hard thing to give away that kind of technology,’ Trump said. ‘People that you give that technology to, they can some day turn on you. You know that is possible.’