Powerful Explosions in Kyiv and Poltava After Russia Launches Ballistic Missile Attack

Kyiv and Poltava were rocked by powerful explosions overnight as Russia launched a new wave of ballistic missile and drone attacks against Ukraine. Air raid sirens wailed across the capital and several regions after Ukrainian Air Force warnings of ballistic threats from the north.

Initial alerts were canceled shortly after midnight, but the threat re-emerged minutes later. At 1:22 AM, the Ukrainian military announced a new missile threat, with the Air Force reporting multiple ballistic missiles heading towards Kyiv and the Poltava region. Strong explosions were heard in the capital shortly after, and similar blasts were reported in Poltava, a city in central Ukraine. The air alert was reinstated in Kyiv and other regions due to the ongoing risk of ballistic attacks, with the Air Force reiterating warnings of potential strikes from the north. The danger was declared over at 2:39 AM after more than an hour of continuous alerts.

Following the missile attacks, Russia deployed a new wave of attack drones targeting Ukrainian territory. At 4:06 AM, the Air Force reported drones approaching Kyiv from the direction of Boryspil. Around 4:20 AM, residents in the capital's outskirts heard more explosions as air defense systems engaged the targets. As of the latest reports, authorities have not confirmed any significant casualties or material damage.

Ukraine's Air Force stated that from Wednesday evening, Russia deployed a total of seven ballistic missiles and 239 drones. The arsenal included Iskander-M and S-400 ballistic missiles, as well as Shahed, Gherbera, and Italmas drones, alongside Parodi "kamikaze" drones designed to overwhelm air defenses. Ukrainian defenses, utilizing military aviation, missile units, electronic warfare systems, drone crews, and mobile fire groups, managed to shoot down or neutralize 216 aerial targets. This included four ballistic missiles and 212 drones across northern, southern, and eastern Ukraine. However, two ballistic missiles and 26 attack drones successfully struck nine locations, with fragments from intercepted devices falling in seven other areas. Authorities are continuing to assess the trajectory and impact of the remaining projectiles.