The Russian military launched another major missile attack against Ukraine on Tuesday morning, with explosions reported in cities across the country, including Kiev.
Interior Minister Ihor Klimenko said a total of five people were killed and more than 40 injured.
In the capital, Kiev Post reporters were woken up by an air raid siren shortly before 6 a.m., followed by at least a dozen explosions in rapid succession around 7:20 a.m.
A preliminary report from Mayor Vitali Klitschko said a fire broke out in a “non-residential building” in Pechersk district, and in “several apartment buildings” in Solomyan district.
Several cars were also set ablaze next to a kindergarten in the Svyatoshinsky district.
Klitschko also said that an unexploded warhead was found in an apartment and that an evacuation of the building was underway.
It is currently unclear whether the damage was caused by a direct missile hit or by debris from air defense operations.
So far, one person is known to have died in Kiev, nine people have been injured, and eight of them are hospitalized.
Ukrainian army commander Valery Zarzhny said on social media that Russian forces fired 41 missiles, including cruise and ballistic missiles, and his forces shot down 21.
Kharkov was also attacked. Initial reports indicate damage to several residential buildings and a gas pipeline on fire. According to preliminary reports, two people were killed and about 35 injured.
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The Ust-Luga oil terminal in the Leningrad region has strategic importance for Moscow. Officials told the Kyiv Post that the attack was a “serious setback” for the Russian military.
“As a result of the shelling in the morning, part of the apartment building was completely destroyed. Rescue teams are now working to dismantle the rubble in order to search for people under it,” the mayor of Kharkiv said.
Initial reports said two people were killed in Pavlograd, Dnepropetrovsk region.
All clear skies were announced in Kiev at around 8:15 a.m.