Explosions were reported in Kiev on Wednesday morning after authorities said Russia had launched its missile attack on the Ukrainian capital since August. Elderly women and young children had to take shelter in an underground metro station.
Ukrainians have been waiting for months for a major missile attack, worried it could deal a new blow to the energy system and cause long blackouts as winter approaches.
Air defenses intercepted two cruise missiles, two ballistic missiles and 37 drones across the country, the air force said. No casualties or major damage were reported in Kiev.
“Putin is launching a missile attack on Kiev right now,” wrote Andriy Yermak, the president’s chief of staff, on Telegram.
Debris fell in the region outside the Ukrainian capital, injuring a 48-year-old man and causing a fire in a warehouse, the head of the region’s administration said.
Kiev has faced Russian drone attacks almost every night for weeks. The city’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said a drone was still flying over the city center in the morning.
“Explosions in the city. Air defense forces are working. Stay in shelters!” the Kiev city administration wrote on Telegram.
About 100 residents took shelter at the central Universitet metro station, including young children sleeping on yoga mats and elderly women sitting on folding chairs.
Some have complained about lack of sleep due to regular drone strikes, which trigger the air raid alert that sounds across the city and rings on phones.
“Mornings are totally ruined. I started college in September and every morning was ruined by those damn Russians. I can’t sleep, I can’t think and I drink energy drinks all the time,” said Mykyta, a teenager hugging her dog on the subway.
Ukrainian rescuers put out a fire in the Kiev region as Russia launched the attack. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service released a video showing teams fighting the flames in a building located in Brovary, in the Kiev region.
Reuters was unable to independently verify the date or location of the images.
Russia targeted Ukrainian energy facilities with strikes earlier this year, causing blackouts. The situation has improved since then, but officials believe the Kremlin may plan to attack the network again soon.
Andrii Kovalenko, a senior official at the National Security and Defense Council, warned that Russia was ready to conduct another “massive” attack and had accumulated a large number of cruise missiles.
Following Wednesday’s strike, power grid operator Ukrenergo said it would limit electricity supplies to businesses due to “significantly” lower power imports and lower generation.
The last time power supply restrictions were imposed on both businesses and homes was after a major Russian missile and drone attack in late August.
It was unclear whether the new restrictions were linked to the latest attack. Ukraine’s largest private power generator and distributor, DTEK, said the restrictions would apply to Kyiv, the surrounding region and the Odesa, Dnipro and Donetsk regions.
Despite regular drone strikes, Russia has not hit Kiev with missiles since Aug. 26, when it launched a massive nationwide attack that officials say deployed more than 200 drones and missiles. That attack killed seven people, Ukraine said.
This content was originally published in Russia carries out first missile attack on Kiev since August, says Ukraine on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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