Reuters:
Russian missile attack rocks Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine
September 2, 2024, 6:27 PM GMT+10
An explosion after a Russian missile strike is seen in the sky over the city during a Russian missile attack, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine September 2, 2024. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
Summary
An explosion after a Russian missile strike is seen in the sky over the city during a Russian missile attack, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine September 2, 2024. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
Summary
- Three injured, water plant and metro station damaged
- Strikes come a week after Moscow's biggest air attack of war
KYIV, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Loud explosions rocked Ukraine's capital Kyiv early on Monday as Russia launched a barrage of missiles, sparking fires and damaging homes and infrastructure, officials said.
Residents across the city were awoken by a quick succession of bangs and the sound of air defence missiles blasting off skyward to intercept targets.
The air force said it had destroyed 22 out of 35 missiles and 20 of 23 attack drones. It listed several types of cruise and ballistic missiles used by Russia.
Air raid alerts sounded across Ukraine for nearly two hours before the air force declared the skies clear at 6:30 a.m. (0330 GMT). Neighbouring NATO member Poland activated Polish and allied aircraft to keep its airspace safe during the attacks.
Air raid alerts sounded across Ukraine for nearly two hours before the air force declared the skies clear at 6:30 a.m. (0330 GMT). Neighbouring NATO member Poland activated Polish and allied aircraft to keep its airspace safe during the attacks.
The broad bombardment, a week after Russia unleashed its largest air attack on Ukraine since full-scale war began early in 2022, coincided with the return to school for many children.
Yevheniia, a 33-year-old mother, tried to put on a brave face as she took her 6-year-old daughter Margo to her first ever day of school.
Yevheniia, a 33-year-old mother, tried to put on a brave face as she took her 6-year-old daughter Margo to her first ever day of school.
The occasion is celebrated in Ukraine, much as it is in Russia, with parents buying large bouquets of flowers for their young children.
“Her hands were shaking, we woke up. Our apartment started to stink of smoke, but we still need to go to school, right? We are Ukrainians,” she said, while her little daughter nodded.
A boiler house at a Kyiv water plant was partially damaged, as was the entrance to a metro station doubling as a bomb shelter in Svyatoshynksyi district, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram, although the station was still operating.
A boiler house at a Kyiv water plant was partially damaged, as was the entrance to a metro station doubling as a bomb shelter in Svyatoshynksyi district, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram, although the station was still operating.
The district is home to a cluster of universities and schools.
The attack injured three people, city military authorities said, adding that two of those were taken to hospital.
Cars were set ablaze across the city as well as at a non-residential building in the Shevchenkivskyi district, mayor Klitschko said.
Cars were set ablaze across the city as well as at a non-residential building in the Shevchenkivskyi district, mayor Klitschko said.
Emergency services rushed to several locations, including the Svyatoshynskyi, Solomyanskyi and Holosiivskyi districts, where debris had fallen from destroyed missiles.
The Solomyanskyi district is home to a major train station and Kyiv's main airport. The historic Svyatoshynskyi district is on the city's western edge, while Holosiivskyi is in the southwest.
Kateryna, 34, had come to the market in Svyatoshyno to buy flowers for her child starting school.
Kateryna, 34, had come to the market in Svyatoshyno to buy flowers for her child starting school.
"Some of the florists were here from five in the morning, they had to drop and hide," she said.
An Islamic centre was also badly damaged in the attack, Crimean Tatar leader Refat Chubarov said on Telegram.
Reuters journalists in Kyiv heard a series of loud explosions from what sounded like the work of air defence units, some in the central area.
Last Monday, Russia fired more than 200 missiles and drones at Ukraine, killing seven people and striking energy facilities nationwide in what Kyiv called the war's "most massive" attack.
Russia denies targeting civilians in the 30-month-old war.
***
Reuters:
Putin says Russia advancing fast - by kilometres - in eastern Ukraine
***
Reuters:
Putin says Russia advancing fast - by kilometres - in eastern Ukraine
September 2, 2024, 8:17 PM GMT+10
A volunteer of East SOS assists resident Andrii Ostorozhnyi who is evacuating his home because of Russian advances, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Selydove near Pokrovsk, Ukraine, August 22, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File photo
Summary
- Putin: Russia taking several square kilometres per day
- Russia seeking to smash through Ukrainian lines
- Russia fighting in two Donbas region towns, bloggers say
MOSCOW, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Russian forces are advancing faster in eastern Ukraine than they have done for a long time, taking several square kilometres per day, President Vladimir Putin said on Monday as Moscow's forces tried to smash through a major Ukrainian defensive line.
Russian forces, which control 18% of Ukraine, have been advancing in eastern Ukraine since the failure of Kyiv's 2023 counter-offensive to achieve a major breakthrough.
Despite a major Ukrainian incursion into Russia's Kursk region that began on Aug. 6, the numerically stronger Russian army has in recent weeks been thrusting relatively swiftly though settlements in eastern Ukraine on the approach to the strategically important city of Pokrovsk.
Despite a major Ukrainian incursion into Russia's Kursk region that began on Aug. 6, the numerically stronger Russian army has in recent weeks been thrusting relatively swiftly though settlements in eastern Ukraine on the approach to the strategically important city of Pokrovsk.
"We have not had such a pace in the offensive in Donbas (region) for a long time," Putin told children at Secondary School No. 20 in Kyzyl, Tuva, about 4,500 km (2,800 miles) east of Moscow.
"Now we are not talking about moving 200 or 300 metres (660 or 1,000 feet) forward ... The Russian armed forces are already bringing territories under control not by 200-300 metres but by square kilometres."
"Now we are not talking about moving 200 or 300 metres (660 or 1,000 feet) forward ... The Russian armed forces are already bringing territories under control not by 200-300 metres but by square kilometres."
Pro-Russian military bloggers said on Monday that Russian forces were now fighting in the eastern Ukrainian towns of Selydove and Ukrainsk. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine on the reported Russian advance.
Yuri Podolyaka, an influential Ukrainian-born, pro-Russian military blogger, said that intense battles were underway in Selydove, about 20 km (12 miles) south of Pokrovsk, and in Ukrainsk, about 14 km (nine miles) south of Selydove.
Yuri Podolyaka, an influential Ukrainian-born, pro-Russian military blogger, said that intense battles were underway in Selydove, about 20 km (12 miles) south of Pokrovsk, and in Ukrainsk, about 14 km (nine miles) south of Selydove.
He said both sides were pushing forces into the battles for the towns, which had populations of over 20,000 and 10,000 respectively before full-scalewar began in February 2022.
The pro-Russian blogger Rybar also said that fighting was going on in both towns. Russian state news agency TASS said that Ukrainian forces had been driven out of a part of Selydove.
The pro-Russian blogger Rybar also said that fighting was going on in both towns. Russian state news agency TASS said that Ukrainian forces had been driven out of a part of Selydove.
By pushing south towards the town of Kurakhivka, Russian forces are seeking to break through Ukrainian defensive lines while increasing their sway over the Pokrovsk-Donetsk road and encircling a chunk of territory, Russian bloggers said.
Russia has been trying to expel Ukrainian forces from its southern Kursk region after Kyiv's Aug. 6 incursion, which was designed partly to pressure Russian generals to scramble forces from other parts of the eastern front in Ukraine.
Russia has been trying to expel Ukrainian forces from its southern Kursk region after Kyiv's Aug. 6 incursion, which was designed partly to pressure Russian generals to scramble forces from other parts of the eastern front in Ukraine.
Russian forces have taken control of the village of Skuchne in the eastern Donetsk region, RIA news agency cited Russia's Defence Ministry as saying on Monday.
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