Russian troops fired more than 20 missiles at the Ukrainian capital in a pre-dawn attack on Saturday that killed at least three people.
Kyiv, the capital, was attacked for the eighth time this month as anxiety grew in Russia over a confrontation between the two President Vladimir V. Putin and Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, founders of the outspoken Wagner mercenary group. The Moscow military leadership accuses Mr. Prigozhin of trying to stage a coup against Mr. Putin.
Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said air defenses had shot down more than 20 missiles around the capital but that falling debris had hit a high-rise building and sparked a blaze that destroyed three floors. As well as the dead, 11 people were injured, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. As rescuers worked at the scene, Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv, said that there could be people under the rubble.
Just after dawn, smoke was still billowing from the building as firefighters used cranes to survey the damage on floors 16, 17, and 18. Residents carefully stepped over broken glass and debris strewn across the parking lot below.
Two women, their feet covered in small wounds, walked out of the building. One wrapped in a blanket; others wore only robes.
Kyiv residents had been shaken from their slumber just before 02:30 local time when air raid sirens blared. Mr Klitschko, reported the explosion as another official said air defenses were working and urged people to take cover.
Volodymyr and Iryna Kuts were awakened in their 19th-floor apartment by a crash as debris ripped through the floor below.
“I don't know how we survived,” said Mr. Kuts, 65. Their windows were shattered, and smoke filled the air.
“We just hugged each other thinking we were going to suffocate,” said Ms. Kuts, 62 years old. They eventually made it down the stairs, assisted by police officers.
Outside the building, dozens of residents loitered, many looking at the scorched and gaping hole torn in the side.
Dymytro Romanov, 42, lives in a neighboring high-rise and said it was most likely not damaged.
“I also live on the 18th floor,” said Mr. Romanov while pointing towards his building. “But I'm lucky.”
Emergency workers were still at the scene, helping to evacuate the injured: an older couple, a woman on a stretcher and a man walking alone, covered in dust and debris. A woman arrived on the scene, saying she had come to look for her son who lived on the 18th floor.
But there was “nothing left” on the 18th floor, a firefighter nearby said after he left.
Just before 6 a.m., the wail of air raid sirens pierced the air again, sending residents racing to find underground shelters.
Cassandra Vinograd reporting contribution.