Five Dead In Strike On Russia’s Kursk Region Following Attack On Kyiv.
Five people have been confirmed dead in the Kursk region of Russia after a reported Ukrainian strike on the town of Rylsk. The attack, which occurred at 15:30 local time (12:30 GMT) on Friday, also left nine people hospitalised and caused significant damage to a cultural centre, a fitness complex, a school, and several homes, according to acting governor Alexander Khinshtein.
Initial reports had indicated six fatalities, including a child, but Khinshtein clarified on Saturday that there were five deaths, with no children among the victims.
The strike on Kursk comes amidst escalating tensions, following a fresh missile attack by Russia on Kyiv earlier on Friday. Ukrainian officials reported that the Russian strike caused damage to a building hosting the embassies of Albania, Argentina, North Macedonia, Palestine, Portugal, and Montenegro. At least one person was killed, and nine others were injured in the attack, which also damaged other structures in the Ukrainian capital.
In a statement, Ukraine’s military confirmed that Russia had launched 65 drones and missiles across the country overnight, with the majority intercepted and destroyed. However, the strike on Kyiv left visible scars, including shattered windows at St Nicholas Cathedral in the Pecherskyi District, one of Kyiv’s oldest Roman Catholic churches.
Videos circulating on social media show Kyiv residents surveying the aftermath of the attack, with one restaurant owner calling the Russians “beasts” as he assessed the damage to his property.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces continue to maintain a foothold in parts of Russia’s Kursk region following a surprise cross-border offensive launched in August.
The incidents underscore the intensifying conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with civilians on both sides bearing the brunt of the violence. The international community has yet to issue a unified response to the latest developments.
