Kyiv, Ukraine – Local officials confirmed that at least three people, including a child, were killed in overnight Russian attacks targeting areas near the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Early this morning, ballistic missiles struck east of the capital. Witnesses reported hearing loud explosions. This happened just days after widespread airstrikes across Ukraine that killed 21 people.
The head of the regional military administration, Timur Tkachenko, said the missile strikes also injured three others. He explained that falling debris caused significant damage to residential buildings and cars. Meanwhile, a large fire broke out in a separate building. For his part, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram that emergency teams were battling fires in a building. In addition, they were working to extinguish a fire at a fuel depot within the city.
Ukrainian emergency efforts and infrastructure damage
The Ukrainian State Emergency Service (DSNS) released photos showing garages, a shop, and an apartment building engulfed in flames in Kyiv. The service confirmed in a statement that search and rescue operations were ongoing. It also noted that “work is underway to determine the final number of victims.” There are fears that the death toll could rise due to the intensity of the shelling.
Zelensky’s visit to Belgrade and Serbia’s stance
On the political and diplomatic front, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, for his first official visit. He is scheduled to meet with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić to discuss economic and security relations. Additionally, the meeting will focus on the path of relations with the European Union. Through this trip, Zelenskyy seeks to garner broader regional and international support for Ukraine.
Conversely, the Ukrainian delegation faces diplomatic complications, as President Vučić has previously rejected imposing economic sanctions on Russia. Despite this, Serbia is officially seeking EU membership. It has also provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine and pledged to contribute to post-war reconstruction efforts.
Air defense crisis and shortage of interceptor missiles
In a related development, Zelensky warned earlier this week that delays in receiving ballistic missile defense systems from Western allies are leading to “heavy losses and massive destruction.” He stressed that a stronger interceptor capability would have saved many lives in recent deadly attacks.
The Ukrainian president added that the supply of interceptor missiles provided by allies had decreased “significantly” this year.
These remarks came after Ukrainian forces launched attacks targeting two oil refineries deep inside Russian territory. They also attacked ships linked to Moscow in the Black Sea. Zelensky explained that these operations aimed to reduce the oil revenues that Russia uses to finance its military operations in Ukraine. Meanwhile, international mediation talks have stalled. This has led to an unprecedented military escalation between the two sides.
