Ukrainian authorities reported that Moscow has launched a new assault on Kyiv. Reuters
In a deadly escalation of the ongoing conflict, Russian officials confirmed that five people were killed in an attack on the town of Rylsk, located in the western Kursk region. The attack, which occurred on Friday afternoon, also left nine others injured and caused significant damage to local infrastructure. Acting Governor Alexander Khinshtein reported that the strike damaged a cultural center, a fitness complex, a school, and several homes.
The attack happened around 15:30 local time (12:30 GMT), with initial reports stating that six people, including a child, had died. However, Khinshtein updated the death toll to five, clarifying that no children were among the victims. The town of Rylsk lies just 25 km from the Ukrainian border, and Ukrainian forces have maintained a presence in parts of the Kursk region since launching a surprise cross-border offensive in August.
Meanwhile, in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, Ukrainian officials reported that Russia had launched another missile attack on the city, targeting buildings that house several foreign embassies. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry confirmed that diplomatic missions from Albania, Argentina, North Macedonia, Palestine, Portugal, and Montenegro were affected by the strike, though it remains unclear if these embassies were directly targeted.
The missile strike in Kyiv killed at least one person and injured nine others. Ukrainian authorities said the attack caused damage to multiple buildings, including residential structures. One of the worst-hit locations was St. Nicholas Cathedral, a Roman Catholic church in Kyiv's Pecherskyi District, where windows were shattered from a nearby explosion.
A video shared on social media showed a restaurant owner in Kyiv angrily condemning the attack, calling Russians "beasts" as he surveyed the wreckage of his business. Another resident, Oksana, shared photos of her destroyed apartment with the BBC, showing broken windows and debris scattered across the floors. She expressed disbelief that she survived, stating, "My balcony flew away, half my walls are gone."
Ukrainian police examine the wreckage inside St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church in Kyiv. BBC
The Ukrainian military reported that Russia had launched 65 drones and missiles across the country overnight, although most of these were intercepted and destroyed. In Kyiv, the damage was particularly severe, and it is believed that some of the strikes targeted a building used by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU).
The Russian defense ministry confirmed that the missile attacks were in retaliation for an earlier Ukrainian strike on a chemical plant in Russia’s Rostov region. However, there is speculation in Kyiv that the attack may have been a response to the recent killing of a Russian general, Lt-Gen Igor Kirillov, in Moscow.
The attack also came just one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin's end-of-year press conference, where he threatened to launch further missile strikes on Kyiv. There is growing concern in Ukraine that Russia might soon deploy more advanced missiles, including the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile, which was recently test-fired by Moscow. On Friday, Ukrainian authorities issued an air alert, warning of a possible Oreshnik missile launch, though it was later confirmed to be a false alarm.
As tensions continue to escalate, both nations brace for more uncertainty and violence, as the conflict shows no signs of slowing down.
