Russia unleashed another wave of attacks early Tuesday on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, killing at least one person and prompting an evacuation, extending a day of terror for residents of the city that began with the midday attacks.
Explosions heard in various parts of Kyiv overnight, according to local and military officials, started a fire in a high-rise building and killed one person. At least three people were injured. It was not immediately clear whether the damage was from intercepted debris or from a direct hit.
The month-long relentless assault on the capital has shaken the weary populace. Local officials say there have been 17 attacks in 30 days, rivaling some of the city's worst moments since the invasion. Ukrainian officials say the concentrated strikes are aimed at confusing and crippling its air defense systems, and intimidating and exhausting civilians.
Twenty people were evacuated from the high-rise building, where the upper two floors were engulfed in flames, and people may be trapped in the rubble, the military administration of Kyiv city said.
Elsewhere in Kyiv, two houses and three cars were burned by falling debris and four people were hospitalized with injuries, said mayor Vitali Klitschko.
Serhii Popko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said the morning's attack was the third wave aimed at the capital in 24 hours. A rare barrage of daylight ballistic missiles on Monday sent residents, including school children carrying their backpacks, running for cover as the city's air defense system shot down the missiles.
The city was targeted by 11 ballistic missiles shortly after 11am on Monday, according to Ukrainian officials. There are no known deaths from the previous attack; a woman was injured, according to officials. Russia says Monday's attack targeted the air base rather than civilians. Ukrainian officials said an airfield in western Ukraine was hit.
Early Tuesday, Russian troops appeared to be mainly targeting the city with drones. At least 20 were intercepted, according to the city's military administration. Russian troops are constantly changing their methods of attack, Popko said.
Russia has stepped up attacks on civilians, including in the capital, in recent weeks as Ukraine prepares to launch a counteroffensive. Military analysts say Ukraine has laid the groundwork for the campaign, launching attacks far beyond enemy lines and undermining Russian logistical operations.
“It's time to get back what is ours,” wrote Ukraine's top military commander, General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, in a statement. Saturday statement.