Blasts rock Kyiv in rare daytime Russian attack

Russian forces have stepped up long-range drone and missile attacks over recent months. Read more at straitstimes.com.

KYIV – Explosions rang out over the Ukrainian capital on March 16, and AFP journalists witnessed air defence batteries fending off a barrage of Russian projectiles during a rare daytime attack on Kyiv.

Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, was also under bombardment, the mayor said, adding that one person was wounded, and transport infrastructure was damaged.

Russian forces have stepped up long-range drone and missile attacks over recent months, mainly targeting energy facilities.

The barrage comes as US-led efforts to bring Kyiv and Moscow to the negotiating table appear to have been derailed by the US-Israeli war with Iran.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said shortly before the air alert was lifted that drone debris had crashed in two districts of the city but did not report any casualties.

“Emergency services are heading to the scenes,” he said.