The New York Times
After days of reprieve, Russian missiles were fired at the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on Friday, where explosions were heard as a delegation of top African officials visited the city.
Explosions echoed across Kyiv before noon as Ukrainian air defenses engaged Russian missiles in the skies overhead.
There were no immediate reports that missiles had hit any targets, and the Kyiv City Military Administration said in a statement that six hypersonic Kinzhal missiles — among the most sophisticated conventional weapons in Russia’s arsenal — six Kalibr cruise missiles and two reconnaissance drones had been detected and destroyed during the Friday attack. The local officials also warned of a potential for future aerial attacks.
The daytime attack came as a delegation of African presidents and diplomats — from Egypt, the Republic of Congo, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia — visited the Ukrainian capital on what they have billed as a peace initiative. The delegation is expected to travel next to Russia to meet with President Vladimir V. Putin.
Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, condemned the missile attack in a post on Twitter.
“Putin ‘builds confidence’ by launching the largest missile attack on Kyiv in weeks, exactly amid the visit of African leaders to our capital,” he wrote. “Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace.”
As the alarms sounded, the Ukrainian Air Force warned of the threat of ballistic missiles, forcing businesses to lock their doors and parents to once again rush with their children to air-raid shelters.
Air defense missiles could be seen streaking in the skies overhead as thunderous booms rattled windows in several Kyiv neighborhoods. Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, said in a statement that there were reports of an explosion in one of the city’s districts. Less than an hour later, the alert warning of further incoming missiles had ended.
Kyiv has a robust air defense system, and for much of May, aerial assaults against the city were mostly intercepted. In recent days, Russia seemed to target other Ukrainian cities with missile attacks, bringing destruction to civilian areas far from the front line.
In those smaller cities, where fewer air defenses are usually available, intercepting missile strikes proved challenging at times.
Explosions echoed across Kyiv before noon as Ukrainian air defenses engaged Russian missiles in the skies overhead.
There were no immediate reports that missiles had hit any targets, and the Kyiv City Military Administration said in a statement that six hypersonic Kinzhal missiles — among the most sophisticated conventional weapons in Russia’s arsenal — six Kalibr cruise missiles and two reconnaissance drones had been detected and destroyed during the Friday attack. The local officials also warned of a potential for future aerial attacks.
The daytime attack came as a delegation of African presidents and diplomats — from Egypt, the Republic of Congo, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia — visited the Ukrainian capital on what they have billed as a peace initiative. The delegation is expected to travel next to Russia to meet with President Vladimir V. Putin.
Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, condemned the missile attack in a post on Twitter.
“Putin ‘builds confidence’ by launching the largest missile attack on Kyiv in weeks, exactly amid the visit of African leaders to our capital,” he wrote. “Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace.”
As the alarms sounded, the Ukrainian Air Force warned of the threat of ballistic missiles, forcing businesses to lock their doors and parents to once again rush with their children to air-raid shelters.
Air defense missiles could be seen streaking in the skies overhead as thunderous booms rattled windows in several Kyiv neighborhoods. Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, said in a statement that there were reports of an explosion in one of the city’s districts. Less than an hour later, the alert warning of further incoming missiles had ended.
Kyiv has a robust air defense system, and for much of May, aerial assaults against the city were mostly intercepted. In recent days, Russia seemed to target other Ukrainian cities with missile attacks, bringing destruction to civilian areas far from the front line.
In those smaller cities, where fewer air defenses are usually available, intercepting missile strikes proved challenging at times.
