Russia launched a large-scale wave of strikes on Kyiv and across Ukraine, causing widespread destruction and injuries, as Moscow prepares for its Victory Day holiday that marks the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany.
At least five people were injured in attacks on Kyiv, Ukrainian officials said, while Russian missiles caused a huge fire at a foodstuff warehouse in the Black Sea city of Odesa. Blasts were reported in several other Ukrainian regions early on Monday morning.
The fresh attacks come as Moscow prepares for its Victory Day parade on Tuesday, a key anniversary for President Vladimir Putin, who has evoked the defeat of Nazi forces in his rhetoric around Ukraine’s invasion.
According to Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, three people were injured in blasts in the city’s Solomyanskyi district, while two others were injured when drone wreckage fell in the Sviatoshyn district, both west of the capital’s centre.
Officials say drone wreckage fell on a runway of the Zhuliany airport, one of the two passenger airports of the Ukrainian capital, causing no fire, but emergency services were working at the site.
Drone debris also seemed to have hit a two-storey building, causing damages. There was no immediate information about potential casualties.
Reuters’ witnesses said they heard numerous explosions in Kyiv overnight, with local officials saying air defence systems were repelling the attacks. It was not immediately clear how many drones were launched on Kyiv.
In the Black Sea port city of Odesa, the local military administration posted images of a large structure fully engulfed in flames, in what he said was a Russian attack on a foodstuff warehouse, among others.
Air raid alerts blared for hours over roughly two-thirds of Ukraine, while there were also media reports of explosions in the southern region of Kherson and in the Zaporizhzhia region in south-east.
Separately, Russian forces intensified shelling of Bakhmut, hoping to take it by Tuesday, Ukraine’s top general in charge of the defence of the besieged city said. Russia’s Wagner mercenary group earlier appeared to ditch plans to withdraw from it.
In the past two weeks, strikes have also intensified on Russian-held targets, especially in Crimea. Ukraine, without confirming any role in those attacks, says destroying enemy infrastructure is preparation for its long-expected ground assault.
