Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, has been hit by more Russian airstrikes, which one official described as “unusual in density”.
Ukraine said all 18 missiles were shot down and footage showed air defenses destroying targets over the city.
But Russia said its strike – which used drones and missiles – hit all its targets.
Moscow has stepped up its air campaign in recent weeks, ahead of an expected invasion of Ukraine.
The airstrike alert was sounded at around 02:30 local time (23:30 GMT Monday) and lifted two hours later in the eighth attack on the capital this month.
Unusually loud explosions were heard in the city center, as officials told residents in online messages that air defenses had been activated.
Ukraine’s armed forces chief Valery Zlozny said Russia attacked Kyiv from the north, south and east and used 18 air, sea and land-based missiles.
Serhii Popko, head of the Ukrainian capital’s military administration, described the barrage as “the most striking missiles in the shortest period of time.”
“According to preliminary information, most of the enemy targets in Kyiv’s airspace have been detected and destroyed,” he added.
It included nine caliber cruise missiles, launched from ships in the Black Sea, and three land-based missiles, General Zlozny said.
Kyiv also destroyed six Kinzel hypersonic missiles capable of reaching speeds of more than 11,000 km/h (7,000 mph), he added.
Russia has claimed in the past that no air defense system in the world can take them out.
Hypersonic weapons are difficult to defend against because of their speed and the fact that they fly at low altitudes – out of sight of ground-based radars – and can maneuver in mid-flight.
Ukraine said it shot down Kunzal for the first time last week during the first attack on Kyiv.
If these claims are true, Moscow will be disappointed that the best weapons from its missile fleet can now be intercepted. This is largely due to the advent of modern Western defense systems, including the Patriots.
Russia has claimed that it was able to destroy the Patriot system during an attack on Kyiv on Tuesday. JEE News cannot independently verify any country’s claims.
On Tuesday, residents were warned to stay away from windows as debris from intercepted missiles fell from the sky.
Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said debris from the rocket fell in central districts, including the city’s zoo. No animals or workers were injured.
The Solominsky district, which includes the international airport, is reported to be the worst affected.
Mr. Popko said that the fire in a non-residential area of the district has been brought under control.
Ksenia, a Kyiv resident, told JEE News that she and her husband were sleeping when they heard “a series of very loud explosions” above their building. He compared the intensity of the attack to that of a Star Wars movie or an action video game.
He also said that thanks to the support of its international allies, Ukraine now has the ability to track and destroy high-caliber missiles.
“It’s a relief to know that Kyiv is in such a strong defense at the moment.”
Another resident, Yuhan Petrov, said Tuesday’s attack was the first time his home had been shaken by the force of an attack since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Earlier this month, Russia resumed airstrikes on Kyiv after a hiatus of more than 50 days. Ukrainian officials believe Moscow’s strategy is to eliminate air defense systems, which have been highly successful in intercepting most of the missiles and drones fired.
In recent days, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been on a tour of Europe, in which he has been promised billions of dollars worth of military equipment by Western allies, including British Prime Minister Rashid Sink and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine, thousands of civilians and fighters have been killed or injured, cities and towns have been destroyed in the fighting, and some 8.2 million Ukrainians have registered as refugees in Europe. 2.8 million of them are in Russia.
