Russia Strikes Kyiv With Ballistic Missiles as Ukrainians Brace for Harsh Winter

Russia struck the Ukrainian capital Kyiv with ballistic missiles and drones on Thursday, killing two people, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, as a series of blasts rocked the city.

Zelensky confirmed the casualties in connection with the strikes, which came amid what he and other Ukrainian officials have described as an intensifying pattern of Russian attacks targeting the country's energy infrastructure as autumn approaches.

The attacks have heightened concerns among Ukrainians about the coming winter months, with officials warning that continued strikes on power and heating infrastructure could leave large numbers of people facing severe hardship during the cold season.

Kyiv has faced repeated waves of missile and drone attacks throughout the ongoing war, with Ukrainian air defences working to intercept incoming projectiles, though officials have acknowledged that not all attacks are fully repelled.

The intensification of strikes on energy infrastructure follows a pattern observed in previous years, when Russian forces have targeted power plants and grid infrastructure as winter approaches, a strategy Ukrainian officials say is intended to weaken civilian morale and infrastructure resilience.

Ukrainian authorities have not yet detailed the full extent of damage caused by Thursday's strikes on Kyiv, including whether residential buildings, energy facilities or other infrastructure were among the targets hit.

The attacks add to the broader toll of the war on Ukraine's civilian population as the conflict continues, with Ukrainian officials repeatedly calling for continued international support, including air defence systems, to help protect the country's infrastructure through the winter.