Russian Drone Strikes Devastate Kyiv: A Fatal Assault on Civilians
– A Russian drone crashed into a residential block in eastern Kyiv, resulting in the tragic loss of six lives and injuring dozens more amidst a series of strikes across the Ukrainian capital.
– In the Lisovyi area, emergency responders worked tirelessly to remove wreckage. Local resident Vita described the harrowing moment when the drone struck, piercing the building before exploding.
– Concurrently, Ukraine intensified its operations against Russian oil infrastructure, launching drone attacks on a major export terminal in Novorossiysk on the Black Sea coast.
– The Sheskharis oil refinery caught fire, impacting both a ship and a nearby block of flats, according to officials. Krasnodar’s governor, Veniamin Kondratyev, reported that three sailors and an additional civilian were injured during these strikes, which also damaged a major oil depot and a container terminal.
– To address the situation, Mayor Andrei Kravchenko declared a state of emergency, while oil exports were put on hold. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine had deployed long-range Long Neptune cruise missiles in its night operations against Russian positions.
– Reports indicate that the devastating drone attack resulted in substantial destruction to several floors of the apartment block. President Zelensky condemned the assaults as vile and calculated, stating that around 430 drones and 18 missiles were launched, leading to significant damage to numerous high-rise buildings.
– The aftermath saw a tragic drone strike on a market in Chornomorsk, claiming two additional lives. In Kyiv, every district faced attacks, prompting city military administration head Tymur Tkachenko to issue urgent warnings for residents to seek shelter just after midnight Thursday.
– The drone struck the seventh floor of the residential building, causing the structure to collapse from the eighth to the fourth floor, according to the fire service. Vita recounted witnessing four bodies being recovered from a nearby apartment.
– Rescue efforts were robust, with over 40 people saved, including 14 pulled from the flames of the residential building. Additionally, one individual was rescued from beneath the rubble.
– The energy infrastructure in Kyiv suffered extensive damage, leaving several buildings without heating. Ukrainian MP Lisa Yasko described the attack’s magnitude, stating it felt like the entire city was shaking.
– Medical teams were swiftly deployed to assist those affected, with Mayor Vitali Klitschko reporting that nine individuals, including one in critical condition, were in the hospital.
– The Ukrainian air force issued warnings about ongoing drone and missile threats in multiple regions, including Sumy, highlighting the continual danger faced by civilians in the conflict.
– This latest wave of strikes follows a previous onslaught that resulted in six casualties just days earlier, raising serious concerns about the persistent targeting of residential areas and energy infrastructure amid the war.
The situation in Kyiv remains dire, underscoring the profound impacts of the conflict and the urgent need for humanitarian support.