KYIV – Russia pounded Ukraine’s capital Kyiv with missiles early on Sept 2, while falling debris from the downed weapons injured at least two people, sparking fires and damaging homes and infrastructure, officials said.
Ukraine’s air defence units destroyed more than 10 cruise missiles and nearly 10 ballistic missiles, the city’s military administration said on the Telegram messaging app.
Air-raid alerts went out across Ukraine for nearly two hours before the air force declared the skies clear at 6.30am local time (11.30am Singapore time).
Neighbouring Nato member Poland activated Polish and allied aircraft to keep its airspace safe during the attacks.
A boiler house at a Kyiv water plant was partially damaged, as was the entrance to a metro station doubling as a bomb shelter in the Svyatoshynksyi district, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram, although the station still operates.
The district is home to a cluster of universities and schools.
The attack injured at least two people, Mr Klitschko said. Cars were set ablaze across the city as well as a non-residential building in the Shevchenkivskyi district, he added.
Emergency services also went to the districts of Svyatoshynksyi, Holosiivskyi and Solomyanskyi, where debris fell from destroyed missiles, Mr Klitschko added.
Solomyanskyi is home to a major train station and Kyiv’s main airport. The historic neighbourhood of Svyatoshynksyi is on the city’s western edge, while Holosiivskyi is in its south-west.
Witnesses in Kyiv heard a series of loud explosions in what sounded like the work of air defence units, some in the central area.
The attack came exactly a week after Moscow launched more than 200 missiles and drones on Ukraine, killing seven people and striking energy facilities nationwide in what Kyiv called the war’s “most massive” attack.
Russia denies targeting civilians in the 30-month-old war unleashed by its invasion of its smaller neighbour in 2022. REUTERS