Russian Missile Attack on Kyiv Kills One, Damages Embassies in Brutal Assault

Kyiv, Ukraine: A deadly Russian missile attack on Kyiv early Friday morning has left one person dead and at least nine others injured, according to Ukrainian officials. The attack, described as "brutal" by U.S. Ambassador Bridget A. Brink, also caused significant damage to several embassies.

The Kyiv City Military Administration confirmed the death of one person and reported that 12 others were injured.The attack came just a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin made provocative remarks about Ukraine during his end-of-year conference, leading to a sharp response from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The missile assault occurred around 7 a.m. when Russia fired five ballistic missiles at Kyiv. Ukrainian air defense forces successfully intercepted all five missiles. However, falling debris from the missiles caused injuries and damage, particularly in the city center. In one area, an office building, roads, and a gas pipe were damaged, and five cars were set on fire. A fire also broke out at a construction site in another district.

In addition to the civilian damage, several embassies located in the same building were affected by the attack. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry identified the embassies of Albania, Argentina, Palestine, North Macedonia, Portugal, and Montenegro as being damaged. Heorhii Tykhyi, a spokesperson for the ministry, condemned the assault as “barbaric,” noting that windows and doors in these diplomatic facilities had been shattered.

Portugal’s embassy reported only light damage and summoned the Russian chargé d’affaires to express their protest over the attack. Russian Ministry of Defense claimed the missile strike was aimed at military targets in response to a Ukrainian attack on a chemical plant in Russia’s Rostov region earlier this week. According to the ministry, the Russian strike targeted the Ukrainian SBU command post, the Kyiv Luch design bureau, and positions of the Patriot air defense system.

In response to the attack, President Zelensky emphasized the need for further sanctions against Russia and expressed gratitude to international partners who have pledged to provide more air defense systems to Ukraine.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, the southern city of Kherson was also heavily targeted in a shelling attack by Russian forces. Local authorities reported two deaths and ten injuries as Russian troops continued their assault in an effort to advance.

The violence continues to escalate as both sides exchange heavy strikes, leaving many civilians caught in the crossfire.