Russian ballistic missile strike on Kyiv region kills three, including a child

Overnight strikes on Kyiv region

Russian forces launched a combined overnight attack on Kyiv and its surrounding region in the early hours of Saturday, 8 August. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv regional military administration, reported on Telegram at approximately 2:30 local time that strikes had hit three locations in the Brovary district northeast of the capital. Three people were killed, including a child, and three others were wounded, one of them also a minor. Falling debris from downed drones or missiles damaged a private home, outbuildings, and vehicles, and sparked a fire at a non-residential building. Tkachenko did not specify whether the damage was caused by missile fragments or downed drones.

Ballistic missile alert in the capital

Around 3:00, Kyiv's city military administration declared an air raid alert citing the use of ballistic missiles, instructing residents to seek shelter. Ukraine's air force had earlier warned of the "threat of ballistic weapon use from the north." An AFP reporter in the city heard about a dozen explosions. Reuters witnesses reported several powerful explosions that shook the city centre. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said around 3:30 that fires had been reported in two districts: a blaze at a non-residential site in the Holosiivskyi district and burning fuel tanks in the Obolonskyi district. Emergency services were dispatched to both locations.

Escalation pattern

The overnight attack follows a week of intensified Russian strikes on Kyiv. On Wednesday, Russian attacks on Kyiv killed 17 people and wounded 44, with authorities reporting extensive damage to civilian infrastructure and businesses. At the beginning of August, Russia launched 35 missiles and 185 drones at the Ukrainian capital, including 27 ballistic missiles, damaging residential buildings and other targets. Ukraine is chronically short of air defences capable of downing Russia's ballistic missiles. Moscow has significantly increased its attacks on the capital in recent months, typically firing salvos of hard-to-intercept ballistic missiles in short blitzes. The overnight wave also involved drones and glide bombs alongside ballistic missiles.

Zelensky's first visit to Serbia

While the strikes unfolded, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Belgrade for his first official visit to Serbia, a country that has maintained close ties with Moscow since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Zelensky was welcomed at Belgrade airport by Energy Minister Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic and held dinner with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. The two leaders are scheduled to hold formal talks at the presidential palace on Saturday.

We will discuss expanding economic ties between our countries, relations with the European Union, other areas that can benefit our nations, and security issues.

A senior Ukrainian official told AFP the visit was an attempt to "pull the Serbs away from Russia's side." Vučić, however, has refused to sanction Moscow, a stance that has irritated the EU and slowed Serbia's accession process. On Thursday, Vučić told media that Serbia's position was set nearly five years ago and had not changed.

I am sure Volodymyr Zelensky, in line with his struggle and his views, will say what he thinks about sanctions against the Russian Federation, but the Republic of Serbia set out its position four-and-a-half years ago, almost five years ago, and has not changed it since. That will remain the case until further notice.