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Massive Russian Missile Attack On Kyiv Leaves Destruction, Many Wounded

Updated
Russian missiles hit various parts of Kyiv on March 21, including the Shevchenkivskiy district.
Russian missiles hit various parts of Kyiv on March 21, including the Shevchenkivskiy district.

KYIV -- A massive wave of Russian missiles targeting Kyiv was largely repelled by the air-defense systems of the Ukrainian capital early on March 21, but several people were wounded by the falling debris while extensive damage was reported in parts of the capital.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said 10 people, including an 11-year-old girl, were wounded in two of the city's neighborhoods -- six in the Shevchenkivskiy district and two in the Svyatoshynskiy district -- and two of them were hospitalized.

Debris from downed Russian missiles fell on residential buildings, businesses, a kindergarten, and vehicles in several areas of Kyiv, Klitschko said.

A transformer substation and several residential buildings caught fire, prompting evacuations, he said.

Serhiy Popko, the head of the Kyiv administration, said two more people were wounded in the Brovariy and Vyshhorod districts of the capital, where at least 24 private houses were destroyed. Popko said the Russian attack lasted three hours, with the missiles approaching the capital simultaneously from different directions.

An air-raid alert was declared for the entire territory of Ukraine for the duration of the attack.


A missile strike on the southern city of Mykolayiv killed one woman and injured six when it hit an industrial site, Ukraine's emergency services agency said.

"Such terror continues every day and night," President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said later on March 21, calling on the West to deliver air defense systems.

"It is possible to put an end to it through global unity.... Russian terrorists do not have missiles capable of bypassing Patriot and other leading world systems," he said on Telegram.

"This protection is required in Ukraine now. From Kyiv to Kharkiv, Sumy to Kherson, and Odesa to the Donetsk region. This is entirely possible if our partners demonstrate sufficient political will."

The Ukrainian military said Russia launched 31 missiles at the capital from 11 Tu-95MS strategic bombers that took off from the Russian cities of Volgodonsk and Engels.

"The enemy attacked [Kyiv] with two Iskander-M ballistic missiles as well as 29 Kh-101 cruise missiles," the Ukrainian Air Force said in a statement.

"All enemy missiles were shot down in the Kyiv region," Commander Mykola Oleschuk said.

The latest wave of Russian attacks came a day after five people were killed as a result of Russian shelling of the eastern city of Kharkiv.

Kyiv Slammed By Russian Missile Barrage, Injuring Civilians

Viewed from an apartment whose windows were blown out, a ladder truck stands near a residential area that had earlier caught fire following a Russian missile attack in Kyiv on March 21.<br /> <br /> The first large Russian attack against the capital in recent weeks targeted the city with both ballistic and cruise missiles, according to Serhiy Popko, the head of its military administration.
1/13 Viewed from an apartment whose windows were blown out, a ladder truck stands near a residential area that had earlier caught fire following a Russian missile attack in Kyiv on March 21.

The first large Russian attack against the capital in recent weeks targeted the city with both ballistic and cruise missiles, according to Serhiy Popko, the head of its military administration.
Russia launched a missile attack on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, early on March 21, injuring at least 10 people and damaging residential buildings and industrial facilities, city officials said.
A flash from the explosion of a missile illuminates the capital city of Kyiv during a Russian missile strike on March 21. Authorities reported that at least 10 people were injured, including an 11-year-old girl.
2/13 A flash from the explosion of a missile illuminates the capital city of Kyiv during a Russian missile strike on March 21. Authorities reported that at least 10 people were injured, including an 11-year-old girl.
Russia launched a missile attack on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, early on March 21, injuring at least 10 people and damaging residential buildings and industrial facilities, city officials said.
Firefighters work near a bomb crater after the Russian attack in Kyiv. Early reports said that there were at least three districts in the capital that suffered damage, including residential areas and a transformer substation.
3/13 Firefighters work near a bomb crater after the Russian attack in Kyiv. Early reports said that there were at least three districts in the capital that suffered damage, including residential areas and a transformer substation.
Russia launched a missile attack on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, early on March 21, injuring at least 10 people and damaging residential buildings and industrial facilities, city officials said.
A firefighter stands amid the debris following the missile attack.<br /> <br /> AFP journalists reported around 10 large blasts. Ukrainian air-defense forces shot down &quot;about three dozen enemy missiles, including ballistic missiles, over Kyiv and in the vicinity of the capital,&quot; the city&#39;s military administration said on Telegram, adding that the raid lasted three hours.
4/13 A firefighter stands amid the debris following the missile attack.

AFP journalists reported around 10 large blasts. Ukrainian air-defense forces shot down "about three dozen enemy missiles, including ballistic missiles, over Kyiv and in the vicinity of the capital," the city's military administration said on Telegram, adding that the raid lasted three hours.
Russia launched a missile attack on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, early on March 21, injuring at least 10 people and damaging residential buildings and industrial facilities, city officials said.
The aftermath showing blown out windows at a residential home.
5/13 The aftermath showing blown out windows at a residential home.
Russia launched a missile attack on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, early on March 21, injuring at least 10 people and damaging residential buildings and industrial facilities, city officials said.
A man stands near damaged vehicles.<br /> <br /> &quot;After a pause of 44 days, the enemy launched another missile attack on Kyiv,&quot; he said. &quot;All emergency services are working at the sites. Clearing the consequences of the missile attack is under way,&quot; Popko said.
6/13 A man stands near damaged vehicles.

"After a pause of 44 days, the enemy launched another missile attack on Kyiv," he said. "All emergency services are working at the sites. Clearing the consequences of the missile attack is under way," Popko said.
Russia launched a missile attack on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, early on March 21, injuring at least 10 people and damaging residential buildings and industrial facilities, city officials said.
Popko added that the Russian military used strategic bombers and also launched missiles from its territory.
7/13 Popko added that the Russian military used strategic bombers and also launched missiles from its territory.
Russia launched a missile attack on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, early on March 21, injuring at least 10 people and damaging residential buildings and industrial facilities, city officials said.
First responders help residents leave their homes following the missile attack.
8/13 First responders help residents leave their homes following the missile attack.
Russia launched a missile attack on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, early on March 21, injuring at least 10 people and damaging residential buildings and industrial facilities, city officials said.
Rocket fragments fell onto a kindergarten in the Sviatoshynskiy district of the capital, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, while an apartment building and a car caught fire in other areas of the city.
9/13 Rocket fragments fell onto a kindergarten in the Sviatoshynskiy district of the capital, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, while an apartment building and a car caught fire in other areas of the city.
Russia launched a missile attack on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, early on March 21, injuring at least 10 people and damaging residential buildings and industrial facilities, city officials said.
City employees work to clear the debris following the attack near a residential building.
10/13 City employees work to clear the debris following the attack near a residential building.
Russia launched a missile attack on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, early on March 21, injuring at least 10 people and damaging residential buildings and industrial facilities, city officials said.
A city employee begins clearing up near shattered cars in a residential parking lot.
11/13 A city employee begins clearing up near shattered cars in a residential parking lot.
Russia launched a missile attack on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, early on March 21, injuring at least 10 people and damaging residential buildings and industrial facilities, city officials said.
Residents huddled outside in the cold while emergency responders arrived at the attack sites.
12/13 Residents huddled outside in the cold while emergency responders arrived at the attack sites.
Russia launched a missile attack on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, early on March 21, injuring at least 10 people and damaging residential buildings and industrial facilities, city officials said.
A woman comforts a child.
13/13 A woman comforts a child.
Russia launched a missile attack on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, early on March 21, injuring at least 10 people and damaging residential buildings and industrial facilities, city officials said.
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Also on March 20, Ukrainian intelligence sources told RFE/RL that Ukrainian drones attacked a Russian air base that houses strategic bombers located near Engels in the Saratov region in an attack planned and executed by the Main Directorate of Ukraine's Military Intelligence.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said "targets had been hit" and the results of the attack were being assessed, without disclosing what targets and how many had allegedly been hit.

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on March 21 that its air-defense systems shot down 10 Vampire rockets launched by Ukraine at the border region of Belgorod.

The region's largest sports and cultural facility, Belgorod Arena, was damaged in the attack, it said.

The claim could not be independently verified.

With reporting by AFP
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