Ballistic Missile Attack Claims Lives and Destroys Neighborhood

In the heart of Kyiv, a vibrant neighborhood has been left in ruins following a ballistic missile attack early in the morning, resulting in at least three fatalities right at the scene. Among those who lost their lives was a security guard at a local restaurant, along with two others who were engulfed in flames while traveling in a minibus. The strike created a massive crater in the road, signifying the impact's intensity.

Nearby, an office building stands heavily damaged opposite a Metro station which has lost a wall, and the exterior of a McDonald's has been crushed due to the explosion's force. Shops located behind the Metro station, despite the escalators still functioning, have been devastated from within. Kolya, a security guard working in one of the shops, was only thirty meters away when the missile hit but remained unfazed, stating that he's accustomed to such incidents after witnessing multiple attacks since Russia's full-scale invasion started three years ago.

According to a local resident, this latest assault marks the eighth incident of its kind in their vicinity, as the night unfolded like many others—with air raid sirens sounding, reports of approaching drones, and anti-aircraft fire resonating throughout the evening. The atmosphere shifted when an alert was lifted just moments before an unsettling quiet fell over the area. This brief silence was abruptly shattered by a thunderous explosion that rattled buildings, leaving one elderly woman, Alla, startled as she had just risen to prepare coffee upon the alert's cancellation when the missile struck.