Key Takeaways
- Russia launched a mass missile and drone attack against Kyiv, killing two people and injuring 38 others, including a child.
- The attack, which began at 1 a.m. local time, saw dozens of missiles and hundreds of drones launched towards the capital, with air defenses intercepting 558 drones and 19 missiles.
- The attack caused significant damage to residential buildings, with fires reported in at least six apartment buildings across the city.
- The Ukrainian government has condemned the attack, with President Volodymyr Zelensky calling it a "terrorist act" and promising to hold Russia accountable.
- The attack has also had an impact on the city’s infrastructure, with power outages reported in several parts of the city and reduced water pressure affecting residential buildings.
Introduction to the Attack
Russia launched a mass missile and drone attack against Kyiv overnight on November 29, killing two people and injuring 38 others, including a child. The attack, which began at 1 a.m. local time, saw dozens of missiles and hundreds of drones launched towards the capital, with air defenses intercepting 558 drones and 19 missiles. The attack caused significant damage to residential buildings, with fires reported in at least six apartment buildings across the city.
Damage and Casualties
The attack resulted in significant damage to residential buildings, with several apartments destroyed in the upper floors of buildings in the Dniprovskyi and Shevchenkivskyi districts. Damage was also reported between the 1st and 3rd floors of high-rise buildings in the Sviatoshynskyi and Solomyanskyi districts. At least 17 of the injured victims have been hospitalized, with a child injured in the Shevchenkivskyi district. The deceased male victim was pulled from rubble following a Russian attack on the Sviatoshynskyi district.
Eyewitness Accounts
Victor Mazepa, a Kyiv resident, told the Kyiv Independent that his wife and child were in a shelter during the attack, while he was in the bathroom when a Russian drone struck near their apartment. "Here is my car. Was. But everyone is alive — that’s the main thing," he said, pointing to the burned-out vehicle. Oleksandr, another Kyiv resident, told the Kyiv Independent that he and his family went to a metro station well before the explosions to take shelter, sensing the attack would be severe. "When it started, it was obvious right away that this would be a serious attack," he said.
Infrastructure Impact
The attack has also had an impact on the city’s infrastructure, with power outages reported in several parts of the city and reduced water pressure affecting residential buildings. Vitaliy Zaichenko, CEO of Ukrainian state grid operator Ukrenergo, told the Kyiv Independent that "transmission lines were damaged and almost half of Kyiv is without electricity." Later in the day, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, DTEK, said it had restored electricity to more than 360,000 households in Kyiv following the attack.
Regional Impact
The attack also had an impact on the surrounding region, with one person killed and at least three people injured in the Kyiv Oblast. A nine-story apartment building was damaged in strikes on the city of Brovary, and several homes and 20 garages were damaged in the attack. Russian drones also crossed into Moldovan territory, forcing the country to temporarily close its airspace. Moldovan President Maia Sandu condemned the attack on social media and reiterated Chisinau’s support for Ukraine.
Shelter Life
As the attack began, many residents of Kyiv made their way to shelters, seeking safety from the explosions. A Kyiv Independent journalist who spent the night in a shelter in Kyiv’s Podil district reported that by around 11 p.m., many residents had already arrived, well before the drones struck. The shelter, located in an underground parking lot, was crowded but organized, with people sleeping on benches, inflatable mats, and even bringing tents. Saliy Olesia, a 41-year-old woman, told the Kyiv Independent that she and her family came to the shelter twice during the night, seeking to escape the explosions and the emotional toll of the attack.
International Reaction
The attack has been widely condemned by the international community, with many countries expressing support for Ukraine and calling for an end to the violence. The Ukrainian government has also condemned the attack, with President Volodymyr Zelensky calling it a "terrorist act" and promising to hold Russia accountable. As the conflict continues, it remains to be seen how the international community will respond to the ongoing attacks on Ukrainian cities and civilians.
