At least two people were killed in a fire triggered by a Russian missile strike on Kyiv on Wednesday, the city’s mayor announced, just hours after President Volodymyr Zelensky warned of impending “massive strikes” targeting the capital.
As winter approaches, Kyiv has faced a surge in hostilities, with air raid sirens sounding almost continuously to alert residents of incoming enemy attacks.
Following military alerts for Kyiv and other regions, residents rushed to take shelter in subway stations early Wednesday, carrying duffel bags, sleeping mats, and blankets.
“We grabbed our belongings and headed here; we live right next door,” said Iryna Rybalchenko, a bank employee, who was resting on a subway platform wrapped in a hoodie and surrounded by her bags.
“The entire city is gripped by fear. We were stuck at work today, and everyone—in our group chats, our bosses—was messaging us, urging us to stay cautious and safe.”
The intensified Russian strikes have repeatedly targeted critical energy infrastructure, along with rail and road transport networks, including key bridges spanning the Dnipro River across the capital.
Tearing Kyiv Apart
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that two individuals perished in a fire in the heavily populated Darnytskyi district as a result of the Wednesday assault.
“Two people were rescued as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames,” Klitschko stated on Telegram, adding that the bodies of two victims were subsequently recovered.
In his nightly address, President Zelensky urged citizens to remain vigilant for air raid sirens, citing updated intelligence on Russian preparations for a massive strike. He asserted that Ukraine’s military stands ready to respond within the limits of its defense capabilities.
Shortly after the president’s address, scheduled blackouts were implemented across parts of Kyiv to relieve pressure on the war-damaged power grid. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian air force issued warnings regarding an incoming ballistic missile aimed at the capital.
Military monitoring channels indicated expectations of a large-scale Russian offensive, potentially involving a combination of cruise and ballistic missiles alongside fast-moving jet-powered drones.
“The children were absolutely terrified. During heavy shelling, we always try to take shelter underground,” said Daria Medvedeva, 36.
An AFP journalist in Kyiv reported hearing a series of explosions in the early hours of Wednesday.
Separately, in the northeastern Sumy Oblast, Russian drone strikes claimed the lives of two men and injured numerous others, according to the National Police of Ukraine. Among the wounded were three children, aged seven, fourteen, and sixteen, who were hurt when an apartment building was struck.
Mayor Klitschko had previously warned that Kyiv must assume a war footing, noting that enemy strikes on bridges and energy infrastructure are actively dismantling the city.
Ukraine’s military also detected a ballistic missile heading toward Zaporizhzhia in the southeast, where local authorities reported that an attack damaged regional transport infrastructure.
