Russian ballistic missiles kill 12 in Ukraine’s Kyiv, spark fires

Russian ballistic missiles struck Kyiv early Thursday, killing 12 people and injuring more than 30. The attack destroyed the upper floors of a residential building in the Solomianskyi district, where seven fatalities were reported, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko. He declared Friday a day of mourning.

Explosions damaged other districts, hitting non-residential facilities, warehouses, a school, and a children's hospital. Power company DTEK reported restoring electricity to over half of the 90,000 homes initially left without power in the capital.

The Russian defense ministry stated that airstrikes and drones hit targets including facilities producing drone components, a military depot, and a logistics hub in Kyiv and the surrounding region. Russia has intensified air attacks on Ukraine recently, aiming to overwhelm the neighbor's limited interceptor missiles.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has also escalated attacks on Russia, targeting oil facilities and logistics infrastructure. Diplomatic efforts to achieve a lasting ceasefire have thus far been unsuccessful since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. A drone crashed into Romania, a NATO and EU member, during the Russian attack on Ukraine, and another crossed Moldova's airspace.

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called for Friday to be ​observed as a day of mourning.