Russian Air Strikes Kill Two, Wound Dozens In Ukraine

Heavy Russian missile and drone strikes on Kyiv and the northeastern city of Kharkiv killed two civilians, wounded dozens, and caused widespread damage, Ukrainian officials.

The attacks struck residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, hours after President Vladimir Putin said an air strike on the Russian city of Belgorod that Moscow said killed 24 civilians and blamed on Ukraine “will not go unpunished.”

Report says Russia has stepped up air strikes on Ukraine over the New Year period, and on Friday conducted its largest air attack of the almost two-year-old war on Ukraine, killing at least 39 people.

Russia attacked with waves of different missiles during the morning rush hour. Military authorities issued air alerts that lasted for at least three hours.

Meanwhile, Kyiv mayor, Vitali Klitschko said an elderly woman had died in an ambulance after being wounded. He had earlier said that at least 16 people had been wounded in the capital.

He said gas pipelines had been damaged in Kyiv’s Pecherskyi district, and electricity and water had been cut off in several districts of the capital. Rescuers were putting out fires in several places, he said.

Additionally, the loss of electricity and water brought back memories of last winter when Russia pounded the energy grid with missiles, causing frequent power cuts and plunging millions into darkness.

Kharkiv’s regional governor, Oleh Synehubov said the central part of the city of Kharkiv was attacked at about 07:30 (0530 GMT). He said on the Telegram messaging app that one person had been killed in the attack and 41 had been wounded

After the initial aerial barrage, spokesperson for the Ukrainian air force, Yuri Ihnat said the situation remained tense and that air defences were bracing for more Russian missile launches.

REUTERS/Christopher Ojilere