September 2, Ukraine (RASIS/AFP) – At least 12 people have been killed and 21 injured in drone and ballistic missile attacks by Russia targeting Kyiv and surrounding areas, Ukrainian officials reported on Tuesday. Moscow has intensified its assaults on Kyiv amid ongoing peace talks brokered by the United States, more than four and a half years into the conflict. The Kremlin has yet to drop its maximalist demands to end the war. Following a week of sustained attacks, strict security measures have been implemented across Kyiv, with approximately a dozen powerful explosions lighting up the sky Tuesday, AFP reported.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the Russian terror acts and confirmed that among the deceased is an Indian citizen. He called on international partners to enhance support for Ukraine’s air defense systems. Officials stated that eight of the fatalities occurred in Kyiv, where most were railway workers killed when a ballistic missile struck a rail depot. Oleksandr Pertsevskyi, CEO of Ukrainian Railways, confirmed that six employees died as a result of the attack.
The assaults caused widespread destruction and fires in multiple locations, Ukrainian authorities said. In the suburb of Boryspil, a residential building sustained damage, and four additional deaths have been reported in the Kyiv region. Zelensky confirmed the safe evacuation of 50 people from the Boryspil building. Due to Ukraine’s limited air defense capabilities, Russia continues its attacks, impacting civilian life. Meanwhile, European Union defense and foreign ministers are scheduled to meet in Ireland starting Tuesday to discuss the situation.
