One civilian killed in Russian ballistic missile bombardment of Kyiv

Moscow launched an aerial attack on Kyiv on the morning of Dec. 20, firing five ballistic missiles, the Ukrainian Air Force reported. 

While air defense forces successfully intercepted the projectiles, debris from the missiles fell in various parts of the city. One civilian, who was outside during the attack, was killed, and 12 others were injured, according to the police.

“The wounded, ranging in age from 19 to 58 years, mostly suffered multiple shrapnel injuries and concussions. The deceased man was 53 years old,” the police statement said.

Russia used Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles for the attack, military officials said.

Kyiv’s southern Holosiivskyi district was hit the hardest, with debris severely damaging the Toronto business center and St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church, a national architectural monument.

“The ‘rose’ – the largest flower [embedded on stained glass] in the cathedral’s center – was damaged. No masonry work was affected, but the stained glass windows were shattered, and the windows in the towers were destroyed,” said Father Pavlo Vyshkovskyi, the church’s rector, in an interview with UP.Kultura.

Fires broke out in three of Kyiv’s administrative districts following the airborne attack, and several residential buildings were damaged. 

A total of 630 residential buildings, 16 hospitals, 17 schools, and 13 kindergartens were left without heat. Ukraine’s capital has established a headquarters to assist residents of the damaged buildings.

“Police officers, along with the State Emergency Service and other agencies, are continuing to work on-site, documenting and recording the aftermath of this latest act of military terror,” the police added.