KIEV (Reuters) – Explosions rang out across Kiev on Wednesday morning after authorities said Russia launched its first missile attack on the Ukrainian capital since August, forcing elderly women and young children to take shelter in an underground metro station.
Ukrainians have been waiting for a major missile attack for months, worried about the possibility of a further blow to the weakened power system and long blackouts as winter sets in.
Air defenses intercepted two cruise missiles, two ballistic missiles and 37 drones across the country, the Air Force said. There were no reports of casualties or major damage in Kiev.
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“Putin is launching a missile attack on Kiev right now,” wrote Andriy Yermak, the president’s chief of staff, on Telegram.
Debris fell in the region around Kiev, injuring a 48-year-old man and causing a fire in a warehouse, the head of the Kiev region administration said.
Kiev has been facing Russian drone attacks almost every night for weeks. The city’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said a drone was still flying over central Kiev in the morning.
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“Explosions in the city. Air defense forces are working. Stay in shelters!” the Kiev city administration wrote on Telegram.
About 100 residents took shelter at the central Universitet metro station, including young children sleeping on yoga mats and elderly women sitting on folding chairs.
Some have complained about lack of sleep due to regular drone strikes, which trigger the air raid alert that sounds across the city and rings on phones.
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“Mornings are totally ruined. I started college in September and every morning has been ruined by those damn Russians. I can’t sleep, I can’t think and I drink energy drinks all the time,” said Mykyta, a teenager who hugged her dog on the subway.
Russia has targeted Ukrainian energy facilities with attacks this year, causing blackouts. The situation has been improving, but authorities believe the Kremlin may plan to attack the network again soon.
Andrii Kovalenko, a senior official at the National Security and Defense Council, warned that Russia was ready to carry out another “massive” attack and had accumulated a large number of cruise missiles.
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Following Wednesday’s attack, power grid operator Ukrenergo said it would limit electricity supplies to businesses due to a “significant” reduction in power imports and generation.
Despite regular drone strikes, Russia has not hit Kiev with missiles since Aug. 26, when it launched a major nationwide attack that officials say deployed more than 200 drones and missiles. That attack killed seven people, according to Ukraine.
(Reportagem de Pavel Polityuk, Olena Harmash and Valentyn Ogirenko)
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