In the early hours of Thursday morning, Kyiv underwent yet another brutal missile and drone attack. After this cowardly strike, at least nine people lost their lives, and more than sixty people were injured —among them six children. The city’s state emergency service later affirmed these numbers, calling the rocket assault “massive,” and reporting damage in five districts.
The targeting of such a densely populated civilian residential urban area raises questions about civilian safety imperatives. Fires were set in garages and administrative buildings, but emergency responders doused the fires before they spread. Humanitarian reports suggest that rescuers are still in the process of pulling people from beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings.
Following the attack, Andriy Yermak, a senior aide to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, called the attack “terrorist act” and claimed that Russian forces had started the attack. Yermak continued by condemning Russia’s aggression against the capital, saying, “Putin demonstrates only one thing – that he wants to take lives.” He noted that a recent strike targeted a crowded residential neighborhood. This damaging state of affairs clearly underscores the immediate necessity to meaningfully invest in protecting civilians before, during, and after conflict.
Emergency Response and Rescue Efforts
Emergency services rushed to the scene in the aftermath of the attack. First responders and teams from around the country worked around-the-clock to remove debris and find survivors in the rubble. Eyewitness accounts describe moving from space to space as families ran from the rubble to find safety in bomb shelters. A bomb shelter in the basement of this residential building sheltered more than a dozen residents. They immediately rushed to shelter as soon as the air alarm sounded.
Rescuers found themselves in harrowing conditions as they climbed over collapsed infrastructure to get to people stuck beneath it. Their commitment is amazing and indicative of the need since every minute is critical in rescue missions. The community quickly surrounded those impacted with love and support, serving one another’s needs with urgency.
Historical Context and Ongoing Tensions
The July 22nd attack on Kyiv marks a deeply troubling continuation of violence in the capital city. Just a few weeks ago, missile strikes during the first week of April killed three civilians. Yermak’s comments underscore a growing frustration with persistent attacks, stating that Russia’s aggression against Kyiv “must stop.”
This bombardment of civilian neighborhoods breaks all humanitarian standards and shows the tragedy of the current conflict that continues to victimize innocent people. As Kyiv faces this tragedy, the fighting spirit of its citizens is being tested yet again.
