Khaberni - The Ukrainian capital witnessed a Russian attack with missiles and drones in the early hours of Friday morning, affecting many areas and resulting in the death of one person and the injury of others, according to local authorities. The Russian Defense Ministry declared that it had shot down more than 200 Ukrainian drones Thursday night into Friday.
Timur Tkachenko, head of the city's military administration, said, "The Russians are bombing residential buildings. There are many high-rise buildings that have been damaged throughout Kyiv, and in every area of it."
Strong explosions were heard in the city center, and air defense systems were activated against drone and missile strikes.
Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, said on Telegram, "Air defense forces are operating in Kyiv," speaking of a "widespread attack on the capital" and urging residents to take shelter.
One person was killed and at least 15 others were injured in the attack, according to the Ukrainian emergency services, which reported rescuing "more than 40 people" from fires and destruction across the city.
Klitschko announced that fires had broken out in several neighborhoods following the strikes and rescue services were called in.
He added that among the injured who were taken to the hospital was a pregnant woman, in addition to a man in "critical condition."
He pointed out that "parts of the heating networks were damaged. In the Desnianskyi district, due to an emergency in the main heating line, heating was temporarily cut off from some buildings."
Meanwhile, Oleksandr Markushin, the mayor of Irpin located in the Kyiv region, said on Facebook that it was a "difficult night" with "drones and missiles flying over the city."
Later, the Russian Defense Ministry on Telegram stated, "Overnight, air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 216 Ukrainian drones, including 66 over the Krasnodar region and 45 over Saratov in southern Russia."
Russia, whose army overpowers the Ukrainian forces in terms of capabilities and military equipment, continues its attack that began in 2022, and is making progress in eastern Ukraine, especially in the Donetsk region where most of the recent battles have been concentrated.
In the meantime, Moscow has intensified its bombing of civilian infrastructure, energy, and the railway network in Ukraine for weeks, with temperatures dropping as winter approaches.
From the Russian side, authorities reported in the early hours of Friday that a Ukrainian attack occurred on the Novorossiysk oil port on the Black Sea.
A fire broke out in an oil refinery that was later extinguished, and residential buildings were damaged by drone shrapnel, resulting in one person being injured, according to the authorities. The operational command of the Krasnodar region added that "drone debris damaged a civilian ship in the port after a widespread attack on Novorossiysk," injuring three crew members.
Ukrainian drone attacks consistently cause damage to the oil and gas sectors and the pipelines used for hydrocarbon transport, leading to increased fuel prices.
