Russia conducts ballistic missile attack on Kyiv, prompting shelter warnings

Russia launched a ballistic missile attack on Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, early Thursday, resulting in multiple explosions across the city, according to Ukrainian officials. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko advised residents to seek shelter as explosions were reported. The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that Russia was targeting the capital with ballistic missiles. Klitschko noted that several non-residential buildings caught fire due to the strikes, but there were no immediate reports of casualties. This attack followed a warning from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who indicated that Russia was preparing for a significant overnight assault. Zelenskyy stated on social media that Air Force Commander Anatolii Kryvonozhko had reported a high probability of a massive attack being executed overnight. He emphasized the importance of international support for air defense systems to protect lives in Ukraine. Zelenskyy had recently returned from a meeting in the United States with President Donald Trump, where discussions included the licensing of Patriot air defense systems for Ukraine.