KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Explosions rocked Kiev during the day Monday as Russian ballistic missiles targeted the Ukrainian capital, hours after a more common nighttime barrage of the city by drones and cruise missiles.
Missile debris intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses fell in central and northern districts of Kyiv in the morning, landing amidst traffic on a city road and also starting a fire on the roof of a building , said the Kyiv military administration. At least one civilian was reportedly injured.
The explosions angered some residents, already energized after being woken up by the nighttime attack.
“After what happened last night, I react sharply to every siren now. I was terrified and I’m still shaking,” shared Alina Ksenofontova, a 50-year-old woman who took refuge in the Kiev metro with his dog Bublik.
The central train station, Tetatralna, was crowded with residents taking shelter.
Artem Zhyla, a 24-year-old who provides legal services overseas, took his laptop with him and continued to work underground.
“I heard two or three explosions, I went to the toilet, then I heard five or seven more explosions. That’s when I realized something terrible was happening,” he said.
Like many others in the capital, he feels exhausted and stressed. However, he has no intention of giving up and plans to attend her yoga class to recharge.
“It’s definitely not enough to break us,” he said.
Russia used short-range Iskander missiles in the morning attack, the Ukrainian air force spokesman told local television.
The missiles were fired from northern kyiv, Yurii Ihnat said without specifying whether it was Russian territory. Kyiv is about 380 kilometers (236 miles) from the Russian border.
Over the previous night, air defenses downed more than 40 targets as Russian forces bombarded Kiev with a combination of drones and cruise missiles in their 15th night attack on the capital so far this month , said Serhii Popko, head of the military administration of Kyiv.
On Saturday evening, kyiv was the victim of the biggest drone attack since the start of the Russian war. At least one person was killed, local officials said.
The Kremlin’s long-range bombing strategy has caused many sleepless nights for the Ukrainians.
Over the winter, Russian forces aimed their missiles and drones at power plants and other infrastructure. The apparent aim was to weaken Ukraine’s resolve and coerce the Ukrainian government into negotiating peace on Moscow’s terms, but the Ukrainians quickly and defiantly repaired the damage.
In recent months, Ukraine has received advanced air defense systems from its Western allies, improving its ability to repel bombardment from Kremlin forces.
Across the country, the Ukrainian Air Force said it shot down 37 of 40 cruise missiles and 29 of 35 drones launched by Kremlin forces on Sunday evening.
At least three civilians were injured across the country in the latest wave of attacks, Ukraine’s presidential office said.
Russian missiles slammed into a military airport in Ukraine’s western Khmelnytsky region, destroying five planes and damaging the runway, local governor Serhyi Hamaliy said on television.
The strike sparked fires in nearby warehouses storing fuel and military equipment, he added.
Russian shelling and airstrikes also targeted nine localities in the eastern Donetsk region, including the town of Kramatorsk which houses the headquarters of the local Ukrainian army, local governor Pavlo Kyrylenko told Ukrainian television.
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Yuras Karmanau contributed to this report from Tallinn, Estonia.
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Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine