Russia strikes Ukraine, kills emergency service workers, in response to ‘terrorism’
Capital city Kyiv among targets, as massive aerial barrage leaves at least four dead, including emergency responders, and wounds dozens, including doctors
Russia fired missiles and attack drones at the Ukrainian capital Kyiv overnight, killing at least four people after President Vladimir Putin vowed retaliation for an audacious drone attack on Russian airbases, with the Kremlin on Friday labelling Ukraine ‘a terrorist regime’.
Deadly attacks have escalated in recent weeks even as the two sides hold talks aimed at finding an end to the three-year war, triggered by Russia’s February 2022 invasion.
Tens of thousands have been killed, cities and villages destroyed across eastern Ukraine, and millions forced to flee their homes with Russia’s forces controlling around one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory.
Russia carried out a barrage of strikes across Ukraine overnight on Friday, targeting not only the capital but western regions like Lviv and Volyn, which border EU and Nato member Poland.
Ukraine’s Air Force said on Friday that Russia had deployed 407 drones in a single night.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky also reported that more than 40 missiles and cruise missiles were fired.