A missile fired by Russian forces struck the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Saturday, damaging residential buildings and injuring two civilians, officials said. The attack took place in a western district of the city and occurred just days before talks between Russia and Ukraine were scheduled to begin in Abu Dhabi.
Al Jazeera reported that debris from the strike hit a five‑storey apartment building, damaging its façade and a nearby residential structure. The city’s military administration said on its Telegram channel that the blast also struck a building housing a kindergarten.
“Explosions in the Kyiv suburbs. The enemy is hitting infrastructure with ballistic missiles,”
Mayor Vitali Klitschko added that the debris had struck the apartment building and warned residents of a risk of further strikes.
Reuters confirmed that two people were injured in the attack and that the same kindergarten building sustained damage. The report noted that city officials continued to caution residents of potential future strikes hours after the incident.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had warned in a nightly video address that Russian forces were preparing new attacks on energy targets, bridges and other infrastructure. His comments came just hours after the strike, adding context to the escalating tensions between the two sides.
The attack was part of a broader context of increasing Russian strikes while Western leaders were preparing for a US‑led diplomatic engagement in Abu Dhabi. Al Jazeera noted that these discussions, which included representatives from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the European Union, were scheduled to address post‑war reconstruction and security guarantees.
Local authorities urged residents to remain alert and to seek shelter during any future attacks, reminding them that the missile hit had occurred within a densely populated area of the capital.
While the incident caused further damage and injury in Kyiv, the broader conflict continues to draw international scrutiny and diplomatic attention.
