At least six are dead as Russia, Ukraine exchange missile attacks
- 20 December, 13:58
At least six people were killed and dozens of others were injured as Russia and Ukraine exchanged missile fires on Friday, causing large-scale destruction in Kyiv and Kursk region.
Russia fired eight ballistic missiles at Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Friday morning, killing one person and injuring at least 12 others.
Ukraine’s air force said it shot eight Khinzal and Iskander-M missiles. The debris of the intercepted missiles caused destruction in several districts of the city. Debris one of the missiles fell on the Toronto business centre, destroying the top storey and setting fire to cars parked outside of the center. Another building damaged by the falling debris is the prosthetics and rehabilitation centre for wounded Ukrainian soldiers. In addition, embassy buildings of six countries have been slightly damaged in the attack.
The attack on Kyiv was followed by Ukrainian missile strike in the town of town of Rylsk in Russia’s border Kursk region on the same day. Five people were killed and 26 others were injured in the attack on Kursk region, the Russian media reported.
“Ukrainian nationalists deliberately chose peaceful sites and public facilities as their targets,” the acting Kursk region Governor Alexander Khinshtein said in a video message on Telegram messaging app. Khinshtein said the emergency service personnel were responding to the incident. Ukrainian media reported that Rylsk city was struck with US-made Army Tactical Missile System, ATACMS, and that the targeted facility was the building where Russian servicemen were stationed. A total of six missiles were fire at the city. Video footage shared in social media purportedly showed the aftermath of the deadly attack on Kursk region.
If confirmed, the strike on Rylsk, will mark the second use of ATACMS long-range missile in the attacks deep into Russia. Ukraine launched first ATACMS at Russian in late November. Russia responded to the attack by firing its “Oreshnik”long-range ballistic missile at Ukraine’s Dnipro city and warned that Kyiv might also be targeted by this missile.
The deadly exchange of fire comes a day after Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that his army was making progress and “advancing toward achieving our goals”.
