Russia attacked Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv with ballistic missiles and drones before dawn on Saturday, killing at least three people in central Kyiv and wounding 11 others. The attack was part of a broader assault that targeted towns and cities across the country.
Air-raid alarms sounded as emergency crews rushed to search for the dead and wounded. Moscow called the attack retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory, which have intensified in recent weeks.
Four ballistic missiles and 39 drones were launched in the assault, with two of the missiles shot down in Kyiv. The attack ruptured a water main near the city center, sending water cascading through the streets.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, urging support from allies to pressure Russia into submission. He said that Ukraine is building its arsenal to hit back at Russian aggression.
In response to the attack, Ukraine launched strikes on oil and gas facilities deep inside Russia. The US has raised questions about whether it will maintain military support for Kyiv after President Donald Trump takes office.
The strike on Kyiv was part of a pattern of attacks by Russia aimed at limiting Moscow’s ability to strike Ukrainian cities. However, efforts to clean up debris from the attack are underway in Kyiv, with McDonald’s pledging to repair its damaged restaurant.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/17/world/europe/ukraine-kyiv-russia.html