Russia used a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile Sunday to carry out a massive attack on Kyiv that killed at least two people and injured dozens more, Ukrainian officials said.
The Kremlin insisted that the intense aerial assault that employed drones as well as the Oreshnik ballistic missiles targeted only Ukrainian military facilities and was in response to “terrorist attacks by the Ukrainian military against civilian facilities.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Russian barrage destroyed homes, schools and one of the oldest food markets in Kyiv.
“The Russian attack effectively destroyed the Chernobyl Museum, damaged the National Art Museum, and the building that housed the German ARD [broadcasting] office,” Mr. Zelenskyy said Sunday on his Telegram page. “It is known that a total of 69 people were injured in the capital. Unfortunately, two people died from this senseless Russian attack.
Mr. Zelenskyy said the Kremlin is waging war not only against the government in Kyiv but also against Ukraine’s memory and history.
“It is important that Russia understands that they will be held accountable for all these crimes,” he said.
The Kremlin said its missiles and drones struck only legitimate targets, including military command centers, air bases, and factories in Ukraine involved in defense production.
“No strikes were planned or carried out against civilian infrastructure targets in Ukraine,” Russian defense ministry officials said in a statement.
However, at least one Russian missile struck the residence of Albania’s ambassador to Ukraine, officials said. “This is unacceptable. Targeting or endangering civilian areas and diplomatic personnel represents a grave escalation and another stark reminder of the human cost of Russia’s continued aggression,” Albanian Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha said in a statement.
Mr. Hoxha accused Moscow of “relentlessly” targeting energy infrastructure, schools, hospitals and homes across Ukraine since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale invasion more than four years ago.
“Yet, it has failed to break the courage, determination, resilience and strength of the Ukrainian people,” he said.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his government “strongly condemned” Russia’s launch of large-scale missile and drone attacks against civilian targets in Kyiv.
“They prolong human suffering and do nothing to change the fact that Russia will lose this war,” he said Sunday on X. “Canada will continue working closely with international partners to secure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine and Europe.”
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