Kyiv — On Monday morning, air raid sirens were blaring, residents ran to bomb shelters, and buildings were rocked by explosions in Kyiv, amid an intensifying Russian attack on Ukraine’s capital.
Around 4:30 am ET, a wave of powerful explosions hit central Kyiv at around 11:30 local time. The air alert was issued shortly after the explosions in central Kyiv. Residents had little time to get out of harm’s way.
NBC News’ staff in the city reported hearing a series loud blasts, one after the other. The glass in windows of buildings in the heart of the capital rattled.
Valery Zaluzhny said that a total number of 11 ballistic missiles and cruise missiles were launched from land in the Kyiv area. He said that all were destroyed.
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday that its forces conducted a massive strike using “long-range precision guided air-launched weaponry” against Ukrainian airfields. The ministry did not directly address the attacks on Kyiv.
The Kyiv Military Administration said that debris from intercepted rockets fell on Kyiv’s northern and central districts and landed on roads and in parks. It added that at least one civilian had been injured.
The daytime attack heightened the unease of residents who were already feeling stressed after weeks of nightly attacks by Russian missiles and drones.
Vitaly Klischko, the mayor of Kyiv, called it “another hard night for the capital” but added that no one had been killed and no buildings were damaged or destroyed.
Serhii Poko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, told reporters that the attack came six hours after Russian forces bombarded Kyiv using a mixture of cruise missiles and drones.
The Kyiv Military Administration said that the daytime attack was the 16th strike on the capital city since the beginning the month. The post said that after a long period of night-only attacks, the enemy attacked a peaceful city in the middle of the day when the majority were at work or on the streets.
Many people took refuge in nearby subway stations.
Anastasiia Gerebetska, a Kyiv resident, told NBC News that the central station, Palats Sportu was crowded after the sirens started to sound.
Gherebetska and Hanna, who turns 5 on Sunday spent many nights in the station to hide from the nighttime attacks against the city. Hanna is a good sleeper and knows how to run towards the nearest station when the sirens sound, according to her mother.
Gherebetska said that the strike on Monday caught her by surprise. She is a designer.
It’s a real nightmare. She said it was a fear of animals, while speaking over the phone in the capital. “My child is afraid of loud noises. She also sees our fear. She imagines sirens as well… And she always wonders why they would want to kill us. “I have no answer for my daughter.”
According to Ukrainian officials, on Sunday the city was the target of the largest drone attack in the history of the conflict. The air force announced that a “record number of” 54 Iranian “Shahed ” drones was launched against the city as it prepared to celebrate the day of the city’s founding. Local officials confirmed that at least one person died.
Ukrainians have spent many sleepless night due to the Kremlin’s long-range bombing strategy.
During the winter, Russian forces targeted power plants and infrastructure with their drones and missiles. It was a clear attempt to weaken Ukraine and force the Ukrainian government into negotiating peace with Moscow. However, the Ukrainians quickly and resolutely repaired all the damage.
Ukraine received advanced air defense systems in recent months from its Western allies. This has improved its ability to repel bombardments from the Kremlin.
Daryna mayer reported from Kyiv and Yuliya talmazan reported in London.
Contributed by Associated Press
