In brief
A series of intense missile and drone attacks by Russia on Kyiv during the night left significant destruction, particularly in the Darnytskyi district, where a residential building was severely damaged, resulting in numerous casualties including children. As the city grapples with the shock and loss, local residents share their harrowing experiences and fears amid ongoing hostilities.
By day, Kyiv can often feel far from the front line. But at night, the war looms large.
In the morning rush hour, the traffic along the Dnipro river embankment is heavy and slow-moving as people try to get to work and go about their daily lives.
During the night, air raid sirens go off intermittently as people monitor the threat level.
After a night laden with announcements of potential heavy attacks, including missiles and drones, the ominous air raid sirens were heeded. Residents could hear the muffled sounds of air defenses intercepting the threats, but the real wake-up call came around 03:00 when a missile struck a building, bringing chaos to the city.
On a night when almost 600 drones and more than 30 missiles were launched, the Darnytskyi district bore the brunt of the assault. The aftermath revealed a devastated low-rise block of flats, completely collapsed in places, as rescue workers searched for survivors.
Eyewitness accounts detailed the shock and horror as people rushed to shelters amid explosions and drone activity. Many, like Iryna Kutsenko, frantically sought news of missing family members as the death toll grew, claiming at least 19 lives, including four children.
The missile strike was described as a brutal act of terrorism by Ukrainian officials, as the consequences of this assault weigh heavily on the community still reeling from the war's relentless toll.
Residents express despair over the indiscriminate nature of the attacks, noting the timing targets those most vulnerable when they are least prepared—sleeping in their homes.
