Dozens Injured in Russian Missile Attacks on Kyiv

Ukrainian officials announced on Wednesday, December 13, that the second Russian missile attack on Kyiv this week injured at least 53 people and damaged homes and a children's hospital. This comes as Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, called for increased aid to his country during his visit to Washington and meetings with American officials. According to Reuters, the missile attack caused windows in apartment complexes to shatter, sending terrified residents into the streets. The Ukrainian Air Force reported on Telegram that its air defense systems shot down all 10 ballistic missiles that targeted the capital around 3 a.m. Zelensky stated on Telegram that he reached an agreement with U.S. President Joe Biden to work on increasing the number of air defense systems in Ukraine, adding that the Russian attacks underscored the importance of this decision. Officials reported that debris caused destruction in four areas of Kyiv along the Dnipro River, damaging 35 buildings. The Ukrainian police reported that 53 people, including six children, were injured in the attack. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine identified the projectiles as Iskander-M ballistic missiles and S-400s, which are very fast air defense missiles but have also been used against ground targets. Zelensky traveled to Norway on Wednesday, stating that his main priority is strengthening air defense. Russia has not commented on the Wednesday attack. Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, emphasized that, according to initial assessments, no one was killed in these attacks, despite broken windows and entrances at the children's hospital in the Dniprovs'kyi area. Klitschko told Reuters, 'These missiles fly at a speed of 8,000 kilometers per hour.' Serhiy Popko, head of the Kyiv military administration, stated that after debris struck a residential building and nearby vehicles, causing a fire, 17 people, including seven children, were forced to evacuate the area. Both Moscow and Kyiv deny targeting civilians in their nearly 22-month war that began with Russia's invasion of Ukraine in March 2022.