Kyiv ballistic missile alert triggered widespread concern across Ukraine early Sunday as powerful explosions shook the capital and officials warned of incoming attacks.
The alert came shortly before 4 am when the city’s military administration urged residents to seek shelter. Moments later AFP journalists reported several loud blasts across Kyiv.
The tensions coincided with a deadly incident in Lviv where a policewoman was killed and at least fifteen others wounded in what authorities described as an act of terror.
Kyiv under early morning missile alert
The Kyiv military administration warned residents of a threat of ballistic weapons and called on civilians to remain in shelters until the alarm was lifted. The nationwide alert was later expanded after the Ukrainian Air Force warned of broader missile threats.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said emergency services transported a woman and a child to hospitals following strikes in the suburbs.
Officials reported a fire on the roof of a residential building as freezing temperatures approached minus ten degrees Celsius. Air defence units were also tracking drones across the wider region and cautioned civilians against sharing images or videos of military activity.
Escalation ahead of invasion anniversary
The strikes come two days before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full scale invasion on February 24, 2022. Kyiv has endured repeated missile and drone attacks as Moscow intensifies winter operations against energy and military infrastructure.
Poland’s Operational Command scrambled jets early Sunday after detecting long range Russian aviation conducting strikes on Ukrainian territory. The alert stretched from central Ukraine to the western border.
Deadly explosions hit Lviv hours earlier
Hours before the Kyiv attacks, explosions tore through a street in central Lviv shortly after police responded to a reported shop break in around 12:30 am.
A first explosion targeted the initial police patrol followed by a second blast when another crew arrived.
Policewoman killed and 15 wounded
Local authorities confirmed the death of a 23 year old policewoman and said at least fifteen people were receiving medical treatment, several in serious condition.
Mayor Andriy Sadovy described the incident as an act of terror although no information on possible perpetrators was released. The blasts damaged a police vehicle and a civilian car.
Lviv, located near the Polish border and far from the front lines, has faced sporadic attacks since 2022 yet deadly explosions in the city center remain uncommon.
Ukraine leadership responds as war nears four year mark
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told AFP that Ukraine is not losing the war and remains committed to regaining territory. He said Ukrainian forces have recovered about three hundred square kilometres during recent operations although AFP could not independently verify the claim.
Zelensky attributed progress partly to outages of Starlink terminals near the front lines which he said were shut down by owner Elon Musk following Ukrainian requests.
Diplomatic pressure intensifies
The United States has been pushing both sides toward negotiations and facilitated several rounds of talks in recent weeks.
Zelensky said he will hold consultations with European leaders and called for deeper engagement from Middle Eastern countries and Turkey as Ukraine seeks broader diplomatic support.
Conclusion:
The overnight strikes in Kyiv and the deadly attack in Lviv underline the heightened tension across Ukraine as the country approaches the anniversary of Russia’s invasion. Authorities remain on high alert as missile and drone activity continues nationwide.
