Russia launches early morning missile attack on Ukraine’s capital

Ukrainian air defence units destroyed more than a dozen cruise and ballistic missiles, Kyiv’s military administration said

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A Ukrainian flag seen in front of thick smoke rising from a fire over Kyiv after Russian missile attacks on Ukraine. Photo: Zuma Press Wire/dpa

Published: 1:24pm, 2 Sep 2024

Russia pounded Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv with missiles early on Monday, while falling debris from the downed weapons injured at least two people, sparking fires and damaging homes and infrastructure, officials said.

Ukraine’s air defence units destroyed more than 10 cruise missiles and nearly 10 ballistic missiles, the city’s military administration said on the Telegram messaging app.

Air raid alerts went out across Ukraine for nearly two hours before the air force declared the skies clear at 6.30am local time. Neighbouring Nato member Poland activated Polish and allied aircraft to keep its airspace safe during the attacks.

A boiler house at a Kyiv water plant was partially damaged as was the entrance to a metro station doubling as a bomb shelter in the Svyatoshynksyi district, Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram, though the station still operates.

The district is home to a cluster of universities and schools.

Students watch firefighters work to extinguish a blaze at a university sports complex damaged during a Russian missile strike on Monday. Photo: Reuters

The attack injured at least two people, Klitschko said. Cars were set ablaze across the city as well as a non-residential building in the Shevchenkivskyi district, he added.