Ukrainian air defense downs all 20 Russian rockets launched at Kyiv

On January 23, Russian forces launched around 20 missiles toward Kyiv. 

The Ukrainian capital's anti-air defense successfully intercepted all Russian target targets, Rubryka reports, citing Kyiv City State Administration's First Deputy Chair Mykola Povoroznyk on Radio Svoboda and the Kyiv City Military Administration.

According to the military administration, today's launch marks the second missile strike on Kyiv this year. The Russians coordinated the attack, involving various weaponry, and the air raid alert in the capital lasted for two and a half hours.

Initially, the Russian troops launched cruise missiles — Kh-101/Kh-555/Kh-55 — from Tu-95MS strategic bombers in the Saratov Oblast, Russia. These missiles approached the capital in two waves. As they entered Kyiv's airspace, the Russians launched ground-based ballistic missiles.

Kyiv's anti-air defense successfully hit nearly two dozen aerial targets. However, due to this combined missile attack, there are, unfortunately, reports of destruction and casualties in the capital.

Povoroznyk confirmed in the broadcast that approximately 20 different types of missiles were used in the Russian attack on the capital.

He added that evacuation efforts are underway from several five-story buildings due to an undetonated part of the missile. One part is in the building's courtyard, and another part is in one of the apartments.

"These are several five-story buildings where evacuation is currently taking place. A designated point is set up in the nearest educational institution, where all efforts to provide assistance for housing repairs will be organized," Povoroznyk explained.

About the massive Russian attack on Kyiv on January 23

Initially, reports from the Ukrainian Air Force indicated a potential launch of cruise missiles from Russian bombers, threatening areas under the air alarm.

By early morning in Kyiv, the first explosions were heard as the anti-air defense system was activated. Mayor Klychko stated that ten people were already affected.

"As of now, 18 people have been affected in Kyiv due to the Russian missile attack. Thirteen of them have been hospitalized, including three children," wrote the head of Kyiv.

The consequences of the attack include damage to several buildings in the Solomianskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, and Pecherskyi districts of Kyiv. Emergency services are actively responding to the scenes.

In the Sviatoshynskyi district, the attack damaged balconies. The evacuation of residents in the affected building was organized. 

A multi-apartment building in the Solomianskyi district has shattered windows due to the explosive wave. Several apartments caught fire, and a non-residential two-story building was also damaged.

In the Pecherskyi district, a non-residential building caught fire after being hit by a missile, and one casualty was reported during the response efforts.

In the Darnytskyi district, multiple locations experienced debris falls, including the roof of a 9-story residential building — without subsequent fires — and near the territory of a kindergarten, also without subsequent ignition.

Rubryka's photo correspondent, Mykola Tymchenko, was documenting the scene of the debris impact in Solomianskyi district.