Kyiv in morning blitz as missiles and drones target critical infrastructure

Almost every district in Kyiv was under a ‘massive’ attack Friday morning, the Ukrainian capital’s mayor said, with AFP journalists reporting explosions in the city centre as Russia intensifies its attacks on infrastructure.

Moscow, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has particularly targeted Ukrainian energy facilities and rail systems, as well as residential areas in recent months.

Missiles and drones were targeting critical infrastructure facilities in the capital on Friday, said Mykola Kalashnyk, the head of the Kyiv regional military administration.

Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko called it a “massive enemy attack”, saying air defence forces were in operation.

At least 11 people were wounded, five of whom were hospitalised, including a pregnant woman and a man in “extremely serious condition”, Klitschko wrote on Telegram.

“Sections of heating networks were damaged,” he said, with some buildings in northeastern Desnyansky district temporarily left without heat.

Electricity and water supplies could also be disrupted, he added.

AFP journalists saw tracer bullets used against drones and several anti-missile systems deployed.

“Russians are hitting residential buildings. There are a lot of damaged high-rise buildings throughout Kyiv, almost in every district,” Tymur Tkachenko, the head of the city’s military administration, wrote on social media.

Mr Klitschko reported fires or damage to buildings in eight of Kyiv’s 10 districts, saying medical emergency teams were deployed to all of them.

A fire broke out on the roof of a five-story residential building in Solomyansky district, a transport hub near Kyiv’s international airport.

The attack comes as Kyiv’s Western allies ratchet up pressure on Russia.

On Wednesday, Canada unveiled new sanctions targeting Russia’s drone and energy production, as well as infrastructure used to launch cyberattacks.

G7 foreign ministers that day called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, voicing “unwavering” support for the country’s territorial integrity.

And the European Commission is considering using part of Russia’s assets frozen after its invasion to provide Kyiv with a loan for budgetary and military support over the next two years.

But after almost four years of war, both sides are heavily entrenched with Moscow rejecting ceasefire calls and efforts by US President Donald Trump to revive a long-stalled peace deal.

Russian forces have been grinding across eastern Ukraine for months, trying to take control of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions.

Russia said Monday it had captured three more villages along the sprawling front line, where it is pressing its advantage in manpower and equipment.

Experts say Russia’s latest strikes on energy infrastructure are putting Ukraine at risk of heating outages ahead of the winter months.