AT LEAST nine people have been killed and 30 injured after Russia unleashed a barrage of overnight strikes on Kyiv.
Vladimir Putin’s forces blitzed flats, homes, a school, supermarkets and a car wash in the second major bombing on Ukraine in just 48 hours.
The burnt-out shell of a car after Russia hammered Kyiv with dozens of ballistic missiles Credit: AP
Huge fires burned down multi-storey flats in the latest attack on Ukraine Credit: Reuters
Hellish smoke billows in toxic clouds from bombed-out buildings Credit: Reuters
A firefighter battles the wreckage of a missile-damaged building Credit: Reuters
Residents had just a few minutes warning before ballistic missiles decimated their homes at around 1:33am.
Horrifying photos show buildings engulfed in flames and abandoned cars burned to husks.
The Lithuanian Embassy was damaged after a missile landed nearby, said the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry.
A rapid succession of explosions battered the capital with blasts continuing until 3:20am.
Bodies lay dead in courtyards while others remain trapped beneath rubble.
A 22-year-old police officer was killed while on duty and four teens were amongst those wounded in the horror blitz.
Putin’s army unleashed a total of 35 missiles – 27 of which were ballistic – and 185 drones, Ukraine’s Air Force confirmed.
National news outlets described “a horrific morning in Kyiv, filled with the pain of loss and revulsion towards the Russian barbarians”.
And Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha slammed the “hellish night in Kyiv…the second attack of this magnitude in just two days.”
Firefighters battle the raging blaze Credit: Reuters
A resident surveys the blackened façade of a building Credit: Reuters
Some have been left homeless after their apartment blocks were hammered with dozens of ballistic missiles.
One woman, Olga, looking at her ruined apartment block, said: “I’ve got nothing left, nothing. But at least I am alive, which is good.”
A rescue mission is underway with at least 105 people rescued so far, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that 17 of the 28 injured residents have been hospitalised.
It comes just hours after a major Russian attack killed at least 10 people and injured more than 50 across Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Ukraine is desperately short of the means to defend itself against Russian ballistic missiles as Putin continues to attack civilians as well as military targets.
He said: “As usual, the Russians struck at ordinary residential buildings.
“Eighteen buildings, a school, the Lithuanian embassy, and infrastructure facilities have been damaged.”
Ukrainian air defences only managed to shoot down two missiles, sparking the Ukrainian leader to plead for further anti-ballistic defence systems.
Donald Trump recently backtracked on a pledge to allow Ukraine to build its own Patriot missile interceptors.
Three weeks ago the US president told Zelensky that the US would grant the nation permission to make the Patriots.
But Trump has since renegaded on his promise and said on Friday that he “has not agreed” to grant the licenses.
He added that the high-tech military equipment is “a hard thing to give away” and warned that Ukraine may “someday turn on you”.
“You have to be very careful”, he said, but added that Washington and Kyiv are “talking about it”.
The U-turn follows fears that the US is running out of weapon stockpiles amid their ongoing war with Iran, according to CNBC.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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