Post by : Meena Ariff

Photo: Reuters

Ukraine’s capital city, Kyiv, was attacked by Russian drones again overnight. Local officials said that at least two people were killed and 13 others were injured in this attack. The city faced fires in many areas as drones hit different places and caused damage.

Where did the attack happen?

Authorities in Kyiv said that the wreckage of a drone fell on the roof of a residential building in the Shevchenkivskyi district. This district is located in central Kyiv and has many homes and offices. Because of the drone falling there, the building caught fire. Firefighters worked hard to control the fire and save people living inside.

What did people see and hear?

Videos shared on social media showed bright flashes and loud explosions in the night sky. These videos have not been checked by independent people yet, but they show that the city’s air defence units were trying to shoot down the drones. Many residents heard sirens during the night, which warned them to stay in shelters.

What is a ballistic missile threat?

Ukraine’s army also said there is a danger of Russia launching ballistic missiles. Ballistic missiles are very powerful weapons that can travel long distances and cause a lot of destruction. People were told to remain in safe places until the danger was over.

What happened earlier this week?

Just two nights before, on Tuesday night, Ukraine faced its biggest aerial attack ever since the war began. In that attack, Russia launched 728 drones and 13 cruise or ballistic missiles on cities across the country. These attacks came in many waves, which made it very hard for the Ukrainian air defence to handle them.

What did officials in Kyiv say about Thursday’s attack?

On Thursday morning, Kyiv’s military administration reported that drones had struck six different districts in the city. Tymur Tkachenko, the head of Kyiv’s administration, wrote on social media that:

• Many residential buildings were burning.
• Vehicles on the roads were destroyed and caught fire.
• Warehouses and offices were also damaged.
• Non-residential buildings, like shops or empty buildings, were on fire too.

He said, “Unfortunately, we have two dead. The Russians killed these people. This is a terrible loss.” His message showed sadness and anger because innocent people lost their lives.

What were residents told to do?

After the attack, residents of Kyiv were told to:

• Stay in shelters until the air raid siren stops.
• Keep windows closed when they returned home because there was a lot of smoke in the city air, which can be harmful if breathed in.

Were there attacks in other parts of Ukraine too?

Overnight, Ukraine’s air force warned that there could be drone attacks in other regions as well. However, it was not immediately clear if anyone was hurt outside of Kyiv.

Did Russia say anything about this attack?

Russia’s military did not give any statement about these drone attacks. Often, Russia does not talk about such attacks officially.

Other important updates related to the war

Attack on Kostiantynivka:

Late on Wednesday, three people were killed in a Russian air strike in the town of Kostiantynivka. This town is close to the front line in eastern Ukraine, where there is heavy fighting. The attack destroyed buildings and hurt many people. Emergency workers were seen removing rubble and trying to rescue anyone trapped under debris.

Weapons from the United States:

The United States has resumed sending some weapons to Ukraine. A few days ago, the US had stopped sending some important air defence weapons, but now it has started again. These weapons help Ukraine defend its cities from drone and missile attacks.

Statements by the US President:

The US President expressed his frustration with the Russia’s President. He said, “We get a lot of nonsense from him. He is nice to us all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.” This means that the US President feels that even though the Russian President speaks nicely, his actions are different and harmful.

Russia’s reaction:

A Russian government spokesperson said that they were calm about what the US President said. He explained that the US President usually speaks in a very strong and harsh way and uses such phrases often.

No progress on ceasefire:

Both leaders have spoken to each other numerous times, but thus far, there has been no progress toward stopping the war. Earlier, the US President had said he could end the war in one day if he wanted, but that has not happened yet.

Sanctions on Russia:

Since becoming President in January, the US President has been threatening to put sanctions on Russia. Sanctions are punishments in the form of trade restrictions or blocking money to make the other country change its actions. However, he has not imposed any strong sanctions on Russia so far.

When did the war start?

Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, many cities and towns in Ukraine have been attacked. Thousands of people have died, and millions have lost their homes because of the fighting. The war has created a lot of sadness and fear among the people of Ukraine.