Russia strikes Kyiv and south Ukraine following deadly attacks

Sunday 06 April 2025 - 11:30

By: Zahouani Ilham

Russia strikes Kyiv and south Ukraine following deadly attacks

Russia launched air strikes on Kyiv and the southern parts of Ukraine, injuring several people, after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the U.S. for its “weak” response to a deadly missile attack on his hometown. The attack in Kryvyi Rih killed 18 people, including nine children.

Kyiv's Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that fires broke out in non-residential buildings in three districts of the capital following Sunday morning’s aerial assault, which injured three individuals. Meanwhile, in Mykolaiv, Russia's missile attack late Saturday night damaged several houses and injured four people, according to regional Governor Vitaliy Kim.

Ukraine’s air defense systems were on high alert, and the entire country went under air alert after the air force warned of potential strikes, including on areas near Poland. Poland's military responded by deploying aircraft due to increased activity from Russia's long-range aviation along the Ukrainian border.

The Ukrainian military successfully intercepted 13 of 23 missiles and 40 of 109 drones launched by Russia during the overnight assault. Ukraine also employed electronic warfare, causing 53 Russian drones to veer off course.

In response, Russia's Ministry of Defense claimed to have destroyed 11 Ukrainian drones over its southern regions of Kursk, Belgorod, and Rostov.

Meanwhile, the deadly attack on Kryvyi Rih left at least 18 people dead, including children as young as three, with a missile striking a residential area near a playground. Zelenskyy expressed outrage, criticizing the weak U.S. response, which did not specifically identify Russia as the aggressor.

The U.S. Ambassador, Bridget Brink, expressed her horror over the attack but refrained from blaming Russia directly. Zelenskyy took to social media to condemn the embassy’s response, calling it surprisingly weak for such a strong country. The Ukrainian government declared three days of mourning starting April 7 for the victims of the Kryvyi Rih attack.