Russia launched a mass missile strike on Ukraine, causing extensive damage and casualties. The early-morning assault predominantly targeted Kyiv, the capital, and Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, leading to several injuries and fatalities.
In Kharkiv, at least two people were killed and 35 others wounded as residential buildings were struck, as reported by the police and regional governor. The mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, confirmed ongoing rescue efforts to locate survivors amidst the rubble. Meanwhile, Kyiv officials reported up to 18 injuries across three districts, with several apartments catching fire during the attack. There were also reports of one fatality in the city.
Eyewitnesses in Kyiv described the harrowing experience of hearing multiple explosions and seeing burning debris fall from the sky. “Strong explosions, our house … was shaking,” said lawmaker Iryna Geraschenko.
People take shelter in a metro station during an air raid, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, January 23, 2024. (REUTERS/Thomas Peter)
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that 21 out of 41 various missiles launched by Russia were intercepted and destroyed. Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential administration, emphasized that such terror could only be stopped by force.
Further, a gas pipeline in Kharkiv caught fire due to the attack, and children were among the several people injured. In the southeastern city of Pavlohrad, there was one reported casualty.
Officials in Sumy, a northern region, also reported damage to critical infrastructure due to a missile strike on the city of Shostka.
Russia, which has not yet commented on the attack, has regularly executed air strikes on cities and civilian infrastructure well beyond the frontline since its nearly two-year-old invasion of Ukraine.
This latest offensive follows accusations by Moscow that Ukrainian forces shelled the Russian-occupied eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, resulting in 27 deaths. Ukrainian forces have denied responsibility for the attack.
