Deadly strikes on Kyiv after Zelenskyy warns of ‘massive’ Russian attack

A Russian missile strike killed at least six people in central Ukraine, including two girls, the head of Kryvyi Rih’s military administration said, while at least one person died in Kyiv, after the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, warned the country hours in advance of Moscow launching another massive attack.

“In a village on the outskirts of Kryvyi Rih, a direct strike by an Iskander-M ballistic missile, launched from Voronezh, hit a private house where a large family lived, killing girls aged five and 12 and four adults,” said Oleksandr Vilkul, adding that a further eight people were wounded and that the death toll may rise.

In Kyiv, “sadly, one death has been confirmed” the military administration for the capital city announced. The Kyiv mayor, Vitali Klitschko, reported fires in several districts. Earlier, he posted: “The enemy is attacking the capital with ballistic weapons. The threat of further attack remains present. Stay in shelters!”

Elsewhere, residential buildings ⁠in ⁠the western city ​of Lviv ⁠were damaged ⁠by ​Russian ‌air ‌attacks, ‌mayor Andriy Sadovyi said on ‌Telegram, citing ​preliminary reports and ⁠asking people ​to seek ​shelter.

Late on Wednesday, Zelenskyy had posted: “The Russians prepared a massive attack several days ago, and there is a high probability that the strike will be carried out tonight … Please, in all regions of Ukraine, pay attention to air raid alerts today and stay safe.”

As the attacks took place, Poland, which shares a border with Ukraine, protectively scrambled fighter ​jets to protect ​its airspace, its armed forces said.

“Fighter aircraft and ​an early warning ‌aircraft have ​begun operations while ​ground-based air defence systems and radar reconnaissance systems have reached a state of readiness.”

Zelenskyy also repeated his request to Ukraine’s allies to supply Kyiv with the missiles its air defence system lacks. “It is important that our partners fully ​understand what is happening and that the protection of people’s lives depends directly on their willingness, or lack of willingness, to provide air defence missiles.”

Meanwhile in Russia, a ⁠warehouse of ⁠online ⁠retailer Wildberries in ​the western ⁠city of ⁠Penza ​caught ‌fire from a Ukrainian ‌drone attack, ‌said the regional governor, Oleg Melnichenko. One person was ​injured and around ⁠200 people ​were evacuated from ​the ​site, he ​added.

With Reuters and Agence France-Presse