The Russia launched a attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Fridayemploying long range weapons and high precision in response to the Ukrainian attack on the Russian region of Rostov this week, for which missiles supplied by the United States and the United Kingdom were used according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
Russia said on Thursday that Ukraine launched six US-made long-range ATACMS missiles and four British-made Storm Shadow missiles at the Rostov region in southern Russia on Wednesday. Ukrainian authorities said Friday’s Russian attack killed one person and damaged buildings in Kyiv, as explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital.
According to the Kyiv administration, 11 people were injured, five of whom were taken to hospital. Fires broke out in several buildings, said Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s military administration. Photos taken at the scene show the devastated roof of an office building with windows blown out and firefighters putting out a blaze.
Many diplomatic buildings affected
The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that it had struck a command center belonging to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), a Patriot anti-aircraft missile system manufactured by the United States as well as the Luch design bureau in Kyiv, suspected of being involved in the design and manufacture of missiles.
“The objectives of the strike were achieved. All targets were hit,” the ministry said. Reuters was unable to verify this information. According to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, Russian forces used eight missiles in the attack, including Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and Iskander/KN-23 ballistic missiles.
The Ukrainian Air Force said it had shot down all five Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles used to attack the capital.
Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, “vehemently” condemned these strikes which damaged “several diplomatic missions”. Among them: that of Portugal, Argentina, Albania and Montenegro, reports the newspaper La Croix.
“The charge d’affaires of the Russian Federation has already been called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to present a formal protest,” added the Portuguese government in a press release.
