On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents
Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents
Get a weekly international news dispatch
Email*
SIGN UP
I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read ourPrivacy notice
A 12-year-old girl was among four killed and at least 70 injured after a 12-hour Russian drone and missile attack on Ukraine, with the capital Kyiv suffering the heaviest assault.
The air assault, which took place overnight and into Sunday, was the first major bombardment since a similar attack killed at least 21 people last month.
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the “vile” bombardment that lasted more than 12 hours and involved nearly 600 drones and several dozen missiles.
News of the destruction came as Denmark’s defence ministry said that it had observed drones at several of its armed forces’ locations overnight for a second consecutive day.
open image in gallery
Houses destroyed in Russia’s air attack in Kyiv(AFP via Getty)
Nato has said that it will upgrade its mission in the Baltic Sea following reports of drone incursions into Denmark.
RECOMMENDED
Ryder Cup MC steps down and apologises to Rory McIlroy for offensive chant
Undo
Strictly Come Dancing announces shocking vote twist that ‘will change everything’
Undo
Start investing today!Interactive Brokers |
Undo
Belly Fat After 50? Try This (It’s Genius!)Akusoli |
Undo
Powered by TaboolaPowered by Taboola
Colonel Martin O’Donnel, a Nato spokesperson, said that “we will conduct even more enhanced vigilance with new multi-domain assets in the Baltic Sea region, which includes Denmark, under Baltic Sentry”.
He said Nato leaders had been in constant contact with Danish leaders about the recent drone incidents and that the assets would include "multiple intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms and at least one air-defence frigate".
open image in gallery
Rescuers work at the site of heavily damaged residential buildings in Kyiv(AFP via Getty)
Separately, Germany said that following a request from Denmark, its armed forces would provide military support for the upcoming European Union summit later this week in Copenhagen
In Ukraine, Mr Zelensky said Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv and Odesa regions were also hit in the renewed Russian attacks.
Zaporizhzhia’s governor Ivan Fedorov said three children – two boys, aged 11 and 12 and a nine-year-old girl, were among the 34 people injured in the region.
Ilona Kovalenko, a 38-year-old resident of a five-storey building in Kyiv's Solomianskyi district that was struck, described being woken up by an explosion which shattered windows.
open image in gallery
A man prepares to cover a damaged car with a plastic sheet at the site of a Russian air attack on the outskirts of Kyiv(AFP via Getty)
She said that the 12-year-old girl, named Oleksandra, who died in the attack, was her neighbour’s daughter.
"A neighbour kept knocking on our door. She was completely covered in blood and shouting, 'help, save my daughter'," said Ms Kovalenko, who fled the building with her grandmother after the strike.
"Sadly, she died on the spot," Ms Kovalenko added. "We are in shock, to be honest."
Mr Zelensky vowed that Ukraine “will strike back” and called on the US and Europe to curb their Russian oil and gas imports.
Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha responded to the attack, saying: “We must maximise the cost of further escalation for Russia”.
Russia’s defence ministry said on Sunday that it had carried out a “massive” attack on Ukraine using long-range air and sea-based weapons and drones to hit military infrastructure, including airfields.
RECOMMENDED
Insults, police and McIlroy’s wrath: How the Ryder Cup boiled over at Bethpage Black
Undo
Justin Rose in furious row with Bryson DeChambeau and caddie
Undo
Seniors are going crazy for these comfy, stylish, easy-on shoesUltra-Comfortable Shoes |
Undo
Do you have a mouse?Desert Order |
Undo
Powered by TaboolaPowered by Taboola
The assault also triggered military responses in neighbouring Poland, where fighter jets were deployed early on Sunday as Russia struck targets in western Ukraine, according to the Polish armed forces.
Reporting contributed by The Associated Press and Reuters.