Russian forces fired more than 20 missiles at the Ukrainian capital in a pre-dawn strike on Saturday that left at least three people dead.
Kyiv, the capital, is attacked for the eighth time this month as anxiety grows in Russia about a confrontation between President Vladimir V. Putin and Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, the outspoken founder of the Wagner mercenary group. Moscow’s military leadership accused Prigozhin of attempting a coup against Putin.
Serhiy Popko, the head of Kyiv’s military administration, said air defenses shot down more than 20 rockets around the capital, but the debris that fell there hit a high-rise building and caused the blaze. burned down three floors. In addition to those killed, 11 people were injured, according to Ukraine’s Interior Ministry. As rescuers worked on the scene, Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, said there could be people under the rubble.
Just after dawn, smoke was still billowing from the building as firefighters used a crane to view damage on the 16th, 17th and 18th floors of the building. Residents carefully stepped through broken glass and building debris scattered throughout the parking lot below.
Two women, with small wounds on their feet, walked out of the building. One is wrapped in a blanket; the other was wearing only a robe.
Residents of Kyiv were jolted from their sleep just before 2:30 a.m. local time when air raid sirens sounded. Klitschko, reported the explosions as other officials said air defenses were working and urged people to take shelter.
Volodymyr and Iryna Kuts were awakened in their 19th floor apartment by a collision as debris tore through the floors below.
Mr Kuts, 65, said: “I don’t know how we survived. Their windows were blown out and smoke filled the air.
Ms Kuts, 62, said: ‘We just hugged each other because we thought we were going to suffocate. Finally, they went down the stairs, helped by police officers.
Outside the building, dozens of residents gathered around, many looking toward the scorched black hole.
Dymytro Romanov, 42, who lives in a neighboring high-rise, said it was a blessing that his building was not damaged.
“I also live on the 18th floor,” said Mr. Romanov, gesturing at his building. “But I got lucky.”
Emergency workers remained at the scene, helping to evacuate the injured: an elderly couple, a woman lying on a stretcher and a man walking alone, covered in dust and debris. A woman who arrived at the scene said she was looking for her son who lived on the 18th floor.
But there was “nothing left” on the 18th floor, a nearby firefighter said after she walked away.
Just before 6 a.m., air raid sirens rang again in the air, sending people racing to find shelter underground.
Cassandra Vinograd contribution report.
