Russian drone and missile barrage kills at least 12 in Ukraine’s Kyiv

At least 12 individuals have been killed and 21 wounded in a wave of Russian air attacks on Ukraine's capital Kyiv and the surrounding region, authorities stated.

Key points

• Ukraine's Drone Forces commander notes it hit 54 Russian "shadow fleet" vessels in August to prevent illegal oil sales funding Russia's war in Ukraine.
• "Kyiv region came under a massive attack by Russian missiles and strike drones tonight, " Kyiv regional military administration chief Tymur Tkachenko remarked on Telegram on Tuesday.
• In the Samara region, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the town of Novokuibyshevsk, blowing out windows in an apartment building, Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev remarked on Telegram.
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced "Russian terror" and remarked an Indian citizen was among the dead, calling on allies to boost Ukraine's air defences.
• Russia's Ministry of Defence remarked it hit military ⁠and energy facilities ⁠in Kyiv and Odesa, ‌as well as regions surrounding these cities overnight.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko remarked at least eight residents were killed and five others, including two children, were injured during the overnight drone and missile attacks on the city.

Another four individuals were killed in the Kyiv region, Ukrainian prosecutors unveiled, saying a residential building was damaged in the suburb of Boryspil. Zelenskyy remarked 50 residents were evacuated from the building in Boryspil.

"Russia always plans its strikes specifically to cause as much destruction to people's lives as possible, and it succeeds only when air defence capabilities are insufficient, " he remarked on social media.

Ukraine's border service additionally stated Russian forces hit the ferry checkpoint at Orlivka on the border with Romania, a NATO member. Ukraine targets Russian port.

In Russia, a Ukrainian drone attack caused a ⁠fire in the port area of Ust-Luga, a major export outlet in the northwest, and ⁠Moscow was repelling drones.

Novokuibyshevsk and the surrounding ⁠area on the ⁠Volga River are home to a ⁠number of ⁠Russia's major ⁠oil refineries run by the state ‌oil firm Rosneft.

For context, the acting governor of Russia's Belgorod region remarked a Ukrainian attack killed one person. Russia and Ukraine deny deliberately attacking civilians.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's Drone Forces commander notes it hit 54 Russian "shadow fleet" vessels in August to prevent illegal oil sales funding Russia's war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the attacks come as European Union defence and foreign ministers gather in Ireland for discussions on strengthening Ukraine's air defences.

Ukraine faces a shortage of interceptor missiles, particularly United States-made Patriot systems applied against ballistic threats.

As well as ships, increasing civilian casualties, both sides have escalated long-range strikes in recent months, hitting infrastructure such as warehouses, businesses, and oil and port facilities.

For now, russian drone and missile barrage kills at least 12 in Ukraine's Kyiv remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.