Russian rocket attack obliterates civilian houses in Kyiv

Russia staged another rocket attack on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, on December 11.

Explosions rang out in Kyiv overnight, following which an air raid warning was declared in the area. Residents reported hearing at least ten explosions.

Shortly after, the State Emergency Service reported that air defense forces were operating in Kyiv. Air defense forces downed eight Russian ballistic missiles, Rubryka reports.

Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko shared on Telegram that police documented the aftermath of the morning Russian rocket attack on Kyiv. According to him, debris from the rockets was recorded in the Darnytskyi district of the capital. 

The Air Force said that Russia likely used the missiles of "Iskander-M" or the "S-400" ground-to-air systems against Kyiv. The air raid warning wasn't declared in advance because detecting ground missile launches is more challenging than tracking aircraft takeoffs.

The Russian forces made their presence known: eight rockets flew in two directions, causing damage in the Kyiv region.

In the Bortnychy neighborhood, a private housing sector sustained significant damage and destruction at various addresses due to the falling debris of downed Russian ballistic missiles.

Near one of the damaged buildings, a crater approximately 5 meters deep could be easily filled with about a dozen people.

"We were lying down to sleep, slept, and then got this — neither a house nor anything inside. Everything is damaged, and the house is collapsing from that side," Mrs. Nadia, a local, lamented.

A total of four people were known to be affected; one man suffered shrapnel wounds to his legs, while others were in a state of shock and received medical assistance.

"Something started shaking, then one hit, then another. Then a neighbor opposite called and said, 'There's a crater in your house,' only the chimney I built myself is left," said the man.

There is damage to residential buildings in several places in Bortnyky. Two buildings are completely destroyed, and about a dozen are damaged. People were unharmed. One of the completely destroyed buildings had not yet been completed. People are clearing the rubble but still remain in a state of shock.

All emergency services continue to work on-site to eliminate the consequences of the attack. Rubryka photo correspondent Mykola Tymchenko is working at the scene documenting the consequences.

Rubryka reported that Russia massively attacked Ukraine, including Kyiv, with over 70 Shahed drones. 

The Ukrainian Air Defense Forces destroyed 18 kamikaze drones of the Shahed-136/131 type on the night of December 11 and eight ballistic missiles by morning.