Aakanksha Jetley, Pune
Kyiv was shaken by a series of explosions on Friday following a nationwide air raid alert. Mayor Klitschko urged residents to take cover while air defences were activated. The air force also reported that Russia had launched hypersonic missiles toward the Kyiv region. The situation remains tense, with authorities closely monitoring the situation and taking necessary measures to ensure the public’s safety
Before the attack, authorities issued a nationwide air alert. Russian jets carrying long-range missiles reportedly took off from Russian air facilities, according to social media observers.
“Explosions in the city, Stay in shelters!” Klitschko wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
According to Reuters journalists and Witnesses in the city center, the location of the explosions could not be confirmed. However, there were reports of missile fragments hitting a children’s hospital, which is undoubtedly worrying news. The mayor, Vitali Klitschko, reported that no one was harmed at the hospital, but missile debris damaged a house roof and a complex of country homes in the Obolon district of the city.
A city official, Mykhailo Shamanov, praised the air defence forces for shooting down the missiles.
In addition to the incidents in the capital, there were also reports of explosions in Vinnytsia and Khmelnytskyi. Air defences in the latter area were reportedly active, and no immediate reports of damage or casualties from the area were noted.
The West provided Ukraine with advanced air defence systems to protect against Russian missile and drone attacks. Although these defences have helped Kyiv deflect the most recent airstrikes, other parts of Ukraine remain vulnerable. Russia has targeted cities far from the frontlines throughout the war, often causing civilian casualties. However, Moscow denies deliberately attacking civilians.