Russia launched a barrage of missiles at Kyiv overnight, the fifth attack against Ukraine’s capital in nine days.
Air raid sirens sounded just after 4 am and Kyiv Post reporters heard several explosions as air defenses intercepted targets.
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According to city authorities, around 15 missiles were detected and all were shot down. Although none hit their targets, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said debris from one rocket fell in a residential area in the Holosiivskyi District in the south-east of the city.
No casualties have been reported at this time.
The whole of Kyiv has just woken up from a strong explosion that was heard in all parts of the city.
— Oleksiy Goncharenko (@GoncharenkoUa) May 9, 2023
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valeriy Zaluzhny, said that a total of 25 missiles had been fired at cities across Ukraine, 23 of which were shot down.
The attack came 24 hours after a massive drone attack against which Klitschko yesterday described as “the most massive attack on Kyiv since the beginning of the war.”
In a Telegram post on Tuesday morning, Serhiy Popko, Head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said the drone attack was a deliberate strategy to “detect and exhaust Kyiv’s air defense forces as much as possible” before the latest missile attack.
“The fifth air attack on Kyiv since the beginning of May,” he added. “With the utmost density and power of the attack precisely on May 9.
“The air-launched cruise missiles, most likely of Kh-101 (Kh-555) type, did not reach their targets. The air defense forces of the capital did a perfect job again.”
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Kyiv has been on high alert all week after an uptick in Russian attacks in the run-up to today’s Victory Day, a celebration of the Soviet Union’s victory over Germany during World War II marked by a massive military parade in Moscow.
Last night’s attack on Kyiv lasted around two hours with the all clear being given just after 6 am.
A beautiful morning in Kyiv. There is a silver lining in explosions at 5am: I wake and can appreciate the beauty of a sunrise. pic.twitter.com/gI1dYabxr8
— Tymofiy Mylovanov (@Mylovanov) May 9, 2023
The British ambassador to Ukraine, Melinda Simmons, said on Twitter: "I guess one advantage of an early morning air raid is the chance to see this. Clouds parting. New day. We are still here."
Popped out after the all clear to get a look at the sky. I guess one advantage of an early morning air raid is the chance to see this. Clouds parting. New day. We are still here. pic.twitter.com/afF7DSTE0T
— Dame Melinda Simmons (@MelSimmonsFCDO) May 9, 2023
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