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Russian Strikes Pound Kyiv Region As Ukrainian Children Head Back To School

Russian air strikes pounded the Kyiv region, killing and injuring local residents as children across Ukraine headed to school for their first day of classes on September 1.

RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service visited the aftermath of the strikes in Boryspil, where a Russian missile struck near a five-story residential building, and in Kyiv, where an Iranian-designed Shahed drone directly hit another high-rise apartment complex.

“There is nothing left,” Natalya, a resident of Boryspil in the Kyiv region, told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service as she surveyed what remained of her sister’s apartment in a building damaged by a Russian missile strike following a deadly attack on September 1.
1 “There is nothing left,” Natalya, a resident of Boryspil in the Kyiv region, told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service as she surveyed what remained of her sister’s apartment in a building damaged by a Russian missile strike following a deadly attack on September 1.
The strike took the lives of at least four people and injured at least 13 others, including Natalya's sister, her sister's husband, and their child."My sister’s husband is being operated on right now," she said standing near the crater left from the strike. "[My sister's] child was admitted to intensive care."A total of 48 people were evacuated from the building following the attack.
2 The strike took the lives of at least four people and injured at least 13 others, including Natalya's sister, her sister's husband, and their child.

"My sister’s husband is being operated on right now," she said standing near the crater left from the strike. "[My sister's] child was admitted to intensive care."

A total of 48 people were evacuated from the building following the attack.
Natalya said she could barely recognize her sister's place, adding that the wall separating it from the neighboring apartment was gone. "There wasn’t even any wallpaper left. You can’t even tell where you are anymore," she said. "The ceiling, the walls -- everything has been blown out."
3 Natalya said she could barely recognize her sister's place, adding that the wall separating it from the neighboring apartment was gone.
"There wasn’t even any wallpaper left. You can’t even tell where you are anymore," she said. "The ceiling, the walls -- everything has been blown out."
As RFE/RL captured images of the aftermath in Boryspil, the personal belongings of local residents were scattered across the scene, including a child’s toy.Following the attack, Kyiv Regional Governor Tymur Tkachenko said Russian forces were “again purposely striking" civilian sites and residential buildings.
4 As RFE/RL captured images of the aftermath in Boryspil, the personal belongings of local residents were scattered across the scene, including a child’s toy.

Following the attack, Kyiv Regional Governor Tymur Tkachenko said Russian forces were “again purposely striking" civilian sites and residential buildings.
Some local residents stare at what had been a familiar part of their neighborhood before the strike.Tkachenko added that cars, private houses, and a car-repair shop were also damaged in the Russian attack on Boryspil.
5 Some local residents stare at what had been a familiar part of their neighborhood before the strike.

Tkachenko added that cars, private houses, and a car-repair shop were also damaged in the Russian attack on Boryspil.
Other people, like Natalya, were seen trying salvage anything they could from the badly damaged five-story building.“I was climbing around there, trying to find at least something -- some documents, some basic things that might have survived,” she said.
6 Other people, like Natalya, were seen trying salvage anything they could from the badly damaged five-story building.

“I was climbing around there, trying to find at least something -- some documents, some basic things that might have survived,” she said.
In another attack, a Russian drone directly hit a high-rise residential building in the city of Kyiv.The incidents came as thousands of Ukrainian children were preparing to start their first day of classes in the new school year on September 1.
7 In another attack, a Russian drone directly hit a high-rise residential building in the city of Kyiv.

The incidents came as thousands of Ukrainian children were preparing to start their first day of classes in the new school year on September 1.
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RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service

RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service has seen its audience grow significantly since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022 and is among the most cited media outlets in the country. Its bold, in-depth reporting from the front lines has won many accolades and awards. Its comprehensive coverage also includes award-winning reporting by the Donbas.Realities and Crimea.Realities projects and the Schemes investigative unit.

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Serhiy Nuzhnenko

Serhiy Nuzhnenko is a photojournalist for RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service.

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