August M
Explosions echoed across Kyiv for hours overnight as Russian missiles and drones struck the Ukrainian capital, killing four people and injuring at least 25. Homes were damaged, power supplies disrupted and emergency workers came under fire as they rushed to help civilians.
The attack unfolded during freezing winter conditions, deepening humanitarian concerns as much of the country braces for extreme cold.
Civilians under fire
Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said one of those killed was a paramedic responding to an earlier strike on an apartment building. He described the incident as a “double-tap” attack, in which a second explosion follows the first and hits rescuers at the scene.
Two residential buildings on the east bank of the Dnipro River and a high-rise in central Kyiv were among the sites struck. Several neighbourhoods were left without electricity during the night.
According to the BBC, more than a dozen missiles and hundreds of drones were launched towards Kyiv as part of the assault.
Western regions hit
The strikes were not limited to the capital. Ukrainian authorities confirmed that infrastructure in the western city of Lviv was hit by a ballistic missile. Lviv lies about 60km from the Polish border, bringing the attack close to EU and Nato territory.
Videos circulating online showed repeated explosions near the city shortly before midnight. Ukrainian officials did not immediately detail the full extent of the damage.
Foreign minister Andrii Sybiha warned that “such a strike close to EU and Nato border is a grave threat to the security on the European continent and a test for the transatlantic community”.
Regional security fears
European officials reacted with concern as the attack underscored the risk of spillover from the war. The proximity of the strikes to Nato borders has heightened anxieties about wider regional instability.
Sybiha said the assault reflected escalating danger beyond Ukraine’s front lines, particularly as long-range weapons are increasingly used against targets far from the east and south of the country.
The European Union has previously urged restraint and transparency as the conflict continues to edge closer to neighbouring states.
Rare weapon confirmed
Later, Russia’s defence ministry said it had used the Oreshnik ballistic missile during the strikes, according to the BBC. This marked only the second known use of the weapon, which was first deployed against the city of Dnipro in November 2024.
The ministry said the attack was retaliation for an alleged Ukrainian drone strike on Vladimir Putin’s residence in December, a claim Kyiv has denied.
The EU has cast doubt on whether that incident took place, and former US president Donald Trump said last week he did not believe it had happened.
The Oreshnik is described as an intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile capable of travelling thousands of kilometres, adding to concerns about escalation.
Sources: BBC
