(Victim numbers updated)
KIEV (dpa-AFX) – Several people have been killed in Russian missile attacks in various parts of Ukraine. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, at least six people were killed across the country. Five deaths and more than 50 injuries were reported on Tuesday in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv alone. A woman also died in Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk region. According to official figures, more than 20 people were injured in the capital Kiev.
A statement from the Kiev military administration about a woman killed was later corrected. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the woman was seriously injured and taken to an intensive care unit after being resuscitated. It was said that several residential buildings in the city were damaged. Several cars also caught fire due to falling debris. An unexploded rocket warhead was also discovered in an apartment. The entire house has now been evacuated.
According to Commander-in-Chief Valeriy Zalushnyj, the Russian military used a total of 41 rockets of different types in the morning attacks. Only just under half could be intercepted. According to the military, all missiles were shot down on approach over Kiev, which is relatively well equipped with air defense systems thanks to Western support. Several explosions were heard in the center of the capital that morning.
Meanwhile, a command of the Polish armed forces said that fighter jets from its own air force and allies had taken off over Poland because of the attacks. This has also happened in the past with violent air strikes on Ukraine – there have been reports about this for a few weeks./ast/DP/mis