In the wake of a devastating night in Kyiv, the rescue operations are ongoing as the search for those presumed dead continues. Oleksandr Bondarchuk expressed his horror after being unable to reach safety when the strikes commenced: "It was terrible," he said, surveying the destruction around him. Evhen Povarenkov stood outside what was left of his apartment in Solomianskyi, a neighborhood directly hit by the attacks.
In the early hours of Tuesday, a cruise missile struck the residential complex where Povarenkov lived, obliterating 35 apartments and creating deep devastation. By Wednesday afternoon, the official death toll climbed to 23 in Kyiv alone, with at least 30 casualties reported nationwide, the majority from this targeted assault.
This latest strike was part of a larger offensive by Russia, involving over 440 drones and 32 missiles, wreaking havoc on the city for nearly nine hours -- marking one of the most severe attacks since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. Flowers and tributes lay beneath the site of the destruction as mourners gathered in grief.
Povarenkov, a warehouse worker, recounted being jolted from sleep by the explosion that damaged his home severely. He suffered multiple injuries, and his elderly mother was also caught in the blast, requiring urgent medical attention for her critical wounds.
Dr. Serhii Dubrov, a leading anesthesiologist at Kyiv City Clinical Hospital, reported that his facility treated 27 victims that night, with injuries ranging from superficial wounds to traumatic brain and internal injuries among the elderly. The demographics of the wounded revealed a grim reality; many victims were unable to flee to shelters due to age and health limitations.
Bondarchuk, a disabled man affected by the attack, echoed feelings of despair among residents. As emergency workers continued to uncover more bodies from the wreckage on Wednesday, the emotional toll laid heavy on the community. These strikes coincided with President Zelensky's attendance at the G7 summit in Canada, leading some to speculate that their timing was a deliberate act of aggression from Russia.
Strikingly, Ukraine's urgent calls for increased international support, particularly air defense systems, remained largely unanswered during Zelensky's talks abroad, complicating the nation's precarious situation. As he prepared to return home, a somber crowd gathered in solidarity at the attack site, grappling with the loss of life and the destruction of their community.
Povarenkov stood helplessly beyond police lines, unable to retrieve any belongings from his shattered apartment while the rescue efforts pressed on. The dire circumstances of Kyiv serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges facing Ukraine amidst this relentless conflict.
In the early hours of Tuesday, a cruise missile struck the residential complex where Povarenkov lived, obliterating 35 apartments and creating deep devastation. By Wednesday afternoon, the official death toll climbed to 23 in Kyiv alone, with at least 30 casualties reported nationwide, the majority from this targeted assault.
This latest strike was part of a larger offensive by Russia, involving over 440 drones and 32 missiles, wreaking havoc on the city for nearly nine hours -- marking one of the most severe attacks since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. Flowers and tributes lay beneath the site of the destruction as mourners gathered in grief.
Povarenkov, a warehouse worker, recounted being jolted from sleep by the explosion that damaged his home severely. He suffered multiple injuries, and his elderly mother was also caught in the blast, requiring urgent medical attention for her critical wounds.
Dr. Serhii Dubrov, a leading anesthesiologist at Kyiv City Clinical Hospital, reported that his facility treated 27 victims that night, with injuries ranging from superficial wounds to traumatic brain and internal injuries among the elderly. The demographics of the wounded revealed a grim reality; many victims were unable to flee to shelters due to age and health limitations.
Bondarchuk, a disabled man affected by the attack, echoed feelings of despair among residents. As emergency workers continued to uncover more bodies from the wreckage on Wednesday, the emotional toll laid heavy on the community. These strikes coincided with President Zelensky's attendance at the G7 summit in Canada, leading some to speculate that their timing was a deliberate act of aggression from Russia.
Strikingly, Ukraine's urgent calls for increased international support, particularly air defense systems, remained largely unanswered during Zelensky's talks abroad, complicating the nation's precarious situation. As he prepared to return home, a somber crowd gathered in solidarity at the attack site, grappling with the loss of life and the destruction of their community.
Povarenkov stood helplessly beyond police lines, unable to retrieve any belongings from his shattered apartment while the rescue efforts pressed on. The dire circumstances of Kyiv serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges facing Ukraine amidst this relentless conflict.
