Russian missiles target Kyiv on first day of school

Hundreds of youngsters returned to highschool for the primary day of the college yr hours after Russia launched a barrage of missiles into the Ukrainian capital Kiev.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko mentioned a water remedy plant and a subway station entrance used as a shelter had been hit. Two colleges and a college had been additionally broken.

Based on the Ukrainian navy, the air power destroyed 22 cruise missiles and airborne ballistic missiles.

Native authorities mentioned three folks had been injured by fragments from the destroyed missile.

For schoolchildren throughout the capital, Monday’s bombing coincided with the primary day of the college yr, a day of celebration in Ukraine.

Academics and fogeys tried to take care of a way of normalcy as music performed and smiling college students had been greeted by a sea of ​​flowers.

One father or mother hid at dwelling along with her daughter throughout the missile assault earlier than sending her to highschool.

“The children had been smiling, however you would see the nervousness on the instructor’s face [who] Bear that burden,” she informed the BBC.

“I’m so grateful for every little thing they do to offer the youngsters an actual vacation.”

For 33-year-old Yevheniia, it was the primary time she despatched her six-year-old daughter to highschool, and the day was full of concern.

“Her arms had been shaking,” Yevnia informed Reuters.

“Our condo began to smoke, however now we have to go to highschool, proper? We’re Ukrainians,” she mentioned she informed her daughter that morning.

Alina, a scholar on the broken college, informed Ukrainian tv that she “began screaming” when the air raid sirens sounded and everybody bumped into the dormitory’s air-raid shelter.

Through the assault, air raid sirens sounded for practically two hours till the navy deemed the skies clear.

“We had been very scared,” Alina mentioned, including that they noticed fireplace after the explosion.

After the assault, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky known as the primary day of faculty “one of the essential days of the yr” for kids, their households and academics.

“All our colleges, all larger schooling establishments which are functioning right now are a testomony to the resilience of our folks and the power of Ukraine,” he mentioned on the Telegram channel.

Ukraine was placed on alert throughout the nation for hours, and neighboring NATO nation Poland mentioned it had deployed its personal and allied plane to safe its airspace amid the Russian assault.

Russian troops superior into 477 sq. kilometers (184 sq. miles) of Ukrainian territory final month, Moscow’s largest month-to-month improve since October 2022, in accordance with knowledge from the Institute for Battle Research analyzed by AFP.

Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned his forces had not superior at “such velocity” in Donbas for “a very long time” and had been occupying a number of sq. kilometers of territory day-after-day.

In the meantime, in Russia’s Kursk area – the place Ukraine launched a shock invasion on August 6 – progress has slowed, with Kiev just lately claiming management of 1,294 sq. kilometers (500 sq. miles) of territory, together with 100 settlements .

Almost 600 Russian troopers had been additionally captured, the assertion added.

President Putin – who’s talking to the kids beginning the brand new college yr – Stated it might not cease his troops from advancing into jap Ukraine, claiming they had been advancing on the quickest tempo “in a very long time.”

“Their plan was to stop our offensive operations in key areas of Donbas. The outcomes are recognized… They didn’t cease our advance,” he mentioned.

Some critics in Ukraine argue that the Kursk invasion diverted skilled troops from the Donbas entrance strains at a crucial second.

Nevertheless, President Zelensky defended the offensive on Monday, saying it was continuing “in accordance with plan.” He mentioned the assault would relieve stress on the jap entrance.