Russian ballistic missile strikes killed at least three people, including a child, and wounded three others in overnight attacks east of Kyiv, regional officials confirmed Saturday. The strikes damaged residential buildings and vehicles, triggering fires that emergency crews battled well into the morning hours.
Timur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv regional military administration, said falling debris from intercepted missiles struck apartment complexes and cars, while a separate structure caught fire. Mayor Vitaly Klitschko reported on Telegram that firefighters were also responding to a blaze at a building and a fuel tank in the capital. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (DSNS) released photographs showing garages, a commercial property, and a building engulfed in flames, noting that the total number of casualties was still being verified as rescue operations continued.
The attack follows a wave of strikes across Ukraine days earlier that left 21 people dead, underscoring the persistent threat to civilian infrastructure despite Ukraine’s air defense capabilities. Witnesses in neighborhoods beyond the city limits described powerful explosions in the early hours that shook windows and triggered air raid alerts across the region.
Emergency responders worked through the morning to contain fires at multiple locations, including the fuel storage facility that posed additional risks to surrounding areas. The DSNS emphasized that search and rescue teams were still clearing debris and assessing structural damage to residential buildings hit by falling missile fragments.
Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Belgrade for his first official visit to Serbia since the full-scale invasion began. He is scheduled to meet with President Aleksandar Vučić to discuss bilateral economic cooperation, security coordination, and Serbia’s evolving relationship with the European Union. The diplomatic engagement comes as Kyiv seeks to strengthen ties across the Balkans, a region where Russian influence has historically been strong but where several nations have condemned the invasion and supported EU sanctions.
Serbia remains the only European country besides Belarus that has not imposed sanctions on Russia, maintaining close energy and political ties with Moscow while also pursuing EU membership. Zelensky’s visit signals Ukraine’s effort to engage directly with Belgrade on security guarantees and economic partnership despite these complexities.
Regional authorities have not specified the exact type of ballistic missiles used in Saturday’s attack, but confirmed the strikes targeted areas east of the capital. The Kremlin has not issued a statement on the latest bombardment. Ukrainian air defense forces reported intercepting several incoming projectiles, though debris from those interceptions caused the civilian casualties and property damage reported on the ground.
