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Kyiv authorities declare day of mourning after deadly Russian missile strikes
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has declared August 21 a day of mourning to honor victims of a major Russian attack on the Ukrainian capital. "On this day, flags will be flown at half-mast on all municipal buildings in the city. It is also recommended that national flags on both state and privately owned buildings across the capital be lowered," Klitschko wrote on Telegram Thursday morning, August 20.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Russian assault was a combined attack. "It was a massive strike—the Russians had prepared for a long time and used a mix of different types of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones to inflict greater damage on civilian infrastructure," Zelensky wrote in Telegram.
According to the latest figures, at least 15 Kyiv residents were killed in the overnight attack, Klitschko reported. Interior Minister of Ukraine, Ihor Klymenko, said more than 40 people were injured. "Over 600 rescuers and police officers were involved in eliminating the consequences of the strikes. Our teams are currently working at two sites in the capital and three more in Boryspil and Brovary districts," he wrote on Telegram.
Klitschko detailed the impact of the Russian strikes in three areas of Kyiv. "In Darnytskyi district, non-residential and warehouse buildings were damaged. In Sviatoshynskyi district, there was destruction on non-residential properties, with warehouse buildings also catching fire. In Solomianskyi district, the upper floors of a nine-story residential building were destroyed and a fire broke out, which has been extinguished. Windows in four nearby residential buildings were damaged. At a separate location, debris caused a fire on the top floors of a four-story building," the mayor said. Klitschko added that a school and a children's hospital were also damaged in Solomianskyi district.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (SES) reported that an industrial facility in Sviatoshynskyi district was hit. People were trapped in two residential buildings and in a school shelter in Solomianskyi district, the SES said on Telegram.
In Kyiv region, initial reports indicate one person was killed and seven others injured in the Russian strikes. "Fires were reported at two fuel infrastructure sites, warehouse structures, private residential homes, and a vehicle. Four private houses were destroyed and four more damaged. Three cars were destroyed and another damaged," the SES reported.
Emergency crews continue to work at the strike sites, extinguishing fires and responding to the aftermath of the latest Russian attack, part of the ongoing full-scale war against Ukraine. "Due to the prolonged air raid alert, SES teams and equipment are stationed in safe locations ," the agency noted.
Ukraine’s Air Force said that overnight on August 20, Russian forces attacked Ukraine using Onyx, Tsirkon, Iskander-M, and S-400 ballistic missiles, as well as 36 Kh-101, Iskander-K, and Kh-59 cruise and air-launched missiles, eight Kalibr missiles, and two Banderoľ loitering munitions. The attack also included 168 strike UAVs, including Shahed and Gerbera types, along with Parodia decoy drones. The main attack targeted Kyiv region, Ukrainian military reported .
Ukrainian air defenses shot down or suppressed 31 Kh-101, Iskander-K, and Kh-59 missiles, all eight Kalibr missiles, two Banderoľ munitions, and 145 drones. In total, 186 aerial targets were shot down or neutralized. The Air Force has not recently disclosed the number of ballistic missiles launched and intercepted. Strikes from missiles and drones hit 28 locations, with debris from intercepted targets falling at two additional sites.
