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A Russian missile strike on Kyiv early Friday claimed one life and left nine others injured, according to Ukrainian officials. The attack came as Moscow claimed retaliation for a Ukrainian assault on Russian territory using American-supplied weaponry.
Residents of Ukraine’s capital were awakened by three powerful explosions before dawn. Ukrainian military officials confirmed their air defense systems successfully intercepted five Iskander ballistic missiles targeting the city. The attack’s aftermath left hundreds of buildings without heat, including 630 homes, 16 healthcare facilities, and 30 educational institutions. Missile debris caused structural damage and ignited fires across three districts.
#FPVideo: A Russian missile strike rocked Kyiv early Friday, with air defences responding to a missile attack. At least one person was reported killed in the attack. Witnesses reported loud blasts and smoke, while debris caused fires in the Holosiivskyi district, damaging cars. pic.twitter.com/UaT7rEyZT1
— Firstpost (@firstpost) December 20, 2024
Ukrainian air defense authorities emphasized the critical importance of immediate civilian response to missile warnings, noting the extremely brief window available for seeking shelter.
Throughout the nearly three-year conflict, Russia has consistently targeted Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, often focusing on power facilities to destabilize daily life. Ukraine, faced with defending against Russia’s superior military forces, has responded by targeting strategic Russian infrastructure supporting their war operations.
Russian defense officials attributed their latest attack to Ukraine’s earlier missile strike on Russia’s Rostov region. They specified that Ukraine had deployed six American ATACMS missiles alongside four British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles in that operation.
Ukraine had previously acknowledged targeting a Rostov oil facility, describing it as part of their strategic campaign against Russian military infrastructure.
Moscow has expressed strong opposition to Ukraine’s use of Western-provided weapons for strikes within Russian territory. The situation escalated when Ukraine first deployed American long-range missiles against Russian targets on November 19, following Washington’s relaxation of usage restrictions.
This development prompted Russia to debut its Oreshnik hypersonic missile, with Putin suggesting potential strikes on Kyiv’s government facilities, though the weapon hasn’t been used since.
#Gravitas | Russia has unleashed a retaliatory strike on Ukraine's capital Kyiv. The attack was carried out in the early hours of Friday causing devastation in various parts of Ukraine’s capital.@MollyGambhir reports #RussiaUkraineWar pic.twitter.com/br4HHHIMrS
— WION (@WIONews) December 20, 2024
In response to Wednesday’s Rostov incident, Russia’s military claimed to have executed precision strikes against Ukraine’s military intelligence headquarters and facilities producing Neptune missile systems.
The Russian Defense Ministry also reported targeting Ukrainian cruise missile systems and American-made Patriot air defense installations, declaring through Telegram that “all objects are hit” and mission objectives were achieved.
These claims remain unverified by independent sources.
