Russian drone, missile attack on Kyiv injures five, hits residential buildings

Russian forces launched a drone and missile attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, overnight, injuring five people and striking residential areas while also triggering a fire at a hotel along a central boulevard.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, writing on Telegram, said the roof of a hotel on Shevchenko Boulevard caught fire following the strikes. Photos shared online showed flames engulfing the top floors of the building as emergency responders worked to contain the blaze.

In a later update, Klitschko said the city also came under a ballistic missile attack. He confirmed that five people were injured in one of Kyiv’s central districts. A Reuters witness reported hearing multiple explosions across the capital during the assault.

Klitschko added that residents were trapped inside a damaged nine-story residential building, while the roof of another high-rise apartment complex was also on fire.

Unverified images circulating on Telegram channels showed civilians taking shelter in underground metro stations as the attacks continued.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had earlier warned that intelligence indicated a possible overnight strike. He also cut short his visit to Dublin, where he had traveled for the start of Ireland’s six-month presidency of the European Union.

Authorities have not yet released further details on the full extent of the damage, and emergency operations are ongoing. -Reporting by Ron Popeski and Jekaterīna Golubkova; Editing by Franklin Paul and Bill Berkrot/Reuters