17 killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine

Russia has carried out one of its deadliest attacks of the year on several Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kyiv. At least 17 people, including a 12-year-old child, have been killed in drone and missile strikes.

According to local authorities, the attacks took place early Thursday (April 16), leaving many people injured. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said four people, including a child, were killed in the capital. A drone flew at low altitude and struck an 18-storey residential building.

Officials reported that at least 60 people were injured across Kyiv. Among the injured were four emergency service workers and two police officers.

International media reports said fires broke out in different parts of Kyiv after the nighttime attacks, with thick black smoke covering the sky. The smell of burning lingered in the air even during morning rescue operations.

In the southern port city of Odesa on the Black Sea coast, eight people were killed and 26 others injured in simultaneous attacks. A high-rise residential building was severely damaged, according to local officials.

Regional authorities said the strikes also damaged Odesa port and other key infrastructure. In addition, a separate morning attack on a market left three more people injured.

In the Dnipro region, the governor reported that attacks from Wednesday evening to night killed four people and injured around 30 others. Residential buildings caught fire during the attacks. In another separate strike in the same region, one more person was killed.

In northeastern Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, at least two people were injured in a drone attack, authorities said.

Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba said rescue operations are ongoing and the death toll may rise further.

Meanwhile, Moscow claimed that the strikes targeted Ukraine’s power infrastructure, as well as cruise missile and drone production facilities.

Ukraine also reported carrying out counterattacks. The country’s drone forces commander said strikes were launched on infrastructure in Russian-occupied Crimea and in the southern city of Tuapse.

According to Russian media and officials, a Ukrainian drone attack in Tuapse killed two people, including a 14-year-old girl, and injured seven others. A major fire also broke out following the strike.

Tuapse is home to an important oil refinery, and the port is used by Russia to export oil, coal, and fertilizers.