Nine killed, 63 wounded in ‘massive’ Russian missile attack on Kyiv

In a bomb shelter set up in a basement of a residential building, over a dozen residents gathered after the air alert started, an AFP journalist witnessed.

Kyiv was last hit by missiles in early April when at least three people were wounded.

It has been the target of sporadic attacks since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

In Ukraine’s east, the city of Kharkiv was hit by seven missiles early Thursday, city mayor Igor Terekhov said, adding later that it was “under attack by cruise missiles for the second time in one night”.

“One of the most recent strikes hit a densely populated residential area … Two people were injured there. The inspection of the sites of enemy strikes is underway,” Terekhov said, urging the city’s residents to “be careful”.

Andriy Yermak, a top aide to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said Russia was attacking Kyiv, Kharkiv and other cities “with missiles and drones right now”.

“Putin shows only a desire to kill,” he said. “The attacks on civilians must stop.”