Russia Launches Major Missile and Drone Attack on Ukrainian Cities, Killing at Least Nine

Russia launched a major missile and drone attack on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Dnipro and Kharkiv, early Tuesday, killing at least nine people and wounding dozens.

This comes after days of warnings that Moscow was planning a major attack.

Death toll likely to rise

At least five people were killed and 25 injured in Dnipro, in eastern Ukraine, regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha said on Telegram.

The injured were hospitalized and are reported to be in moderate condition, he said, sharing pictures of heavily damaged residential buildings and burnt vehicles.

In Kyiv, at least four people were killed and 51 others injured, according to the capital's head of military administration, Tymur Tkachenko.

The death toll is likely to increase.

A suspected missile strike on a 24-floor apartment building in Kyiv triggered its collapse, with people likely trapped under the rubble, Kyiv ​Mayor Vitali ‌Klitschko said.

Other buildings caught fire from suspected missile debris, he added.

"In the Obolon district, cars are ‌burning after being struck by falling missile debris," Klitschko said. "There are also fires at two locations in open areas, ‌including ​one near a kindergarten."

Air raid warnings rang across much of Ukraine on Tuesday morning, forcing Kyiv residents to take refuge in shelters and underground metro stations. Many residents also faced power outages and problems with the water supply.

In Kharkiv, at least 10 people were injured, according to the eastern city's mayor.

The Ukrainian air force said Moscow had used ballistic and cruise missiles in the attacks, something it has done before.

Zelenskyy's warning becomes reality

Hours before the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had repeated warnings of a potentially major Russian assault. He had urged residents to stay alert and pay special attention to air raid sirens.

"Intelligence warnings regarding Russian strikes remain in effect. A massive strike is possible, they have prepared one," Zelenskyy had said in his nightly video address on Monday.

Russia, last week, warned that it intended to launch "systematic strikes" on Ukrainian military targets and decision centers in Kyiv and urged foreigners to leave the capital.

That was in response to a drone strike on a dormitory in Russian-held Luhansk region, which killed 21 people.

Ukraine has denied carrying out that attack.

Russia's war in Ukraine is well into its fourth year with Moscow increasingly targeting power supplies while Kyiv is targeting its rival's oil facilities. Several attempts at mediation to end the conflict have failed, especially with global attention diverted to the US-Israeli war with Iran.

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Edited by: Sean Sinico