Early Thursday, Russia launched a ballistic missile attack on Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital. Multiple explosions were reported across the city, as confirmed by Ukrainian officials. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko urged residents to seek shelter as the blasts echoed throughout the area. A witness cited by Reuters confirmed hearing several explosions.
The Ukrainian Air Force stated that Russia was targeting the capital with ballistic missiles. Mayor Klitschko later reported that several non-residential sites caught fire following the strikes, although there were no immediate reports of casualties.
This attack occurred shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned of a potential major overnight assault by Russia. He noted that Air Force Commander Anatolii Kryvonozhko had informed him of Russia’s preparations for a massive attack days earlier and stressed a high likelihood of its execution overnight.
In his statement, Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of international partners understanding the situation fully. He noted that the protection of lives in Ukraine hinges on the readiness of allies to provide air defense missiles, particularly from the United States.
The Ukrainian leader made this appeal after returning from a meeting with President Donald Trump in the United States. President Trump announced at a NATO summit in Turkey that the U.S. would license Ukraine to manufacture Patriot air defense systems, as reported by The Associated Press.
Zelenskyy highlighted that this support is particularly critical from the U.S. and other partners possessing Patriot missile systems. He stressed the urgency for each partner to comprehend the needs and implications of delaying assistance.
Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey and Reuters contributed to this report.