Russian Air Strikes Hit Cities Across Ukraine, Killing at Least Eight People

In a series of Russian air strikes, several cities across Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv, were hit, leaving at least eight people dead. Residential buildings in the central city of Uman were targeted, resulting in the death of six individuals while nine others were injured and taken to the hospital. In the city of Dnipro, a woman and her three-year-old daughter lost their lives. Explosions were also reported in the cities of Kremenchuk and Poltava, according to the Interfax news agency.

This marks the first missile attack on the Ukrainian capital in 51 days, said the head of the Kyiv city military administration. However, there were no immediate reports of civilian casualties in the capital. Ukraine’s air defence system reportedly shot down 21 out of 23 missiles and two attack drones, according to officials who posted the information on Telegram.

A video shared on Telegram by Ukraine’s State Border Service showed a severely damaged apartment building in Uman after the attacks. The strikes came as Ukrainian forces are believed to be preparing for a military offensive, with new equipment supplied by Western allies, including tanks.

Russia has been engaged in a winter offensive but has struggled to gain control of the strategically important city of Bakhmut, which has been under siege for the past 10 months. The latest air strikes have intensified the conflict, with tensions running high between Ukraine and Russia.