Devastating Assault on Kyiv Residential Buildings: A Horror Story Unfolds
Powerful shockwave hoists you aloft and hurls you mercilessly into a wall
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Witnesses in Kyiv are still reeling from the aftermath of the Russian assault. "The atmosphere was chaotic, frightening, filled with cries and tears," shares a mother. "It was a long, difficult night." In the Svyatoshinsky district, countless lives were upended.
The fragile, 76-year-old, blind woman named Lyubov jumps each time debris is brought out and tossed close by. She's been sitting upright in the entrance of her once-lived apartment building in Kyiv's Svyatoshinsky district. Scattered remnants of doors, window frames, and broken glass surround her. Lyubov, who has lived here for 47 years, now finds her home uninhabitable.
Thursday morning saw Russia unleashing a barrage of drone and ballistic missile strikes throughout Ukraine. Such a massive attack hadn't been witnessed for a long time. Kyiv, the capital, was hit in 15 different locations. At least 12 people perished, including two minors, while over 90 others sustained injuries, six of whom were children.
Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko stated that these attacks targeted civilian infrastructure in densely populated residential areas. Twenty-five residential buildings, a school, and a kindergarten were devastated in Kyiv alone. Over 16,000 individuals found refuge in the metro.
Preparing for a Dangerous Double Whammy
The neighborhood where Lyubov resides experienced severe devastation. "We initially heard the drones," she recounts. Then, a ballistic missile struck a neighboring two-story residence, reducing it to rubble. Across ten multi-story residential buildings, the extent of the damage was significant. "Fortunately, it was only a two-story house that was hit directly," remarks Pavlo Petro, spokesperson for the Kyiv branch of the State Emergency Service DSNS, who's on-site along with other rescue workers. An attack on a larger building would have resulted in numerous casualties.
Rescue teams arrived at two in the morning, but the operation was far from straightforward. Petro shares the danger they faced. As search and rescue dogs scanned for survivors beneath the wreckage, air raid sirens continued until six in the morning. Petro emphasizes, "We always expect a double strike, particularly when civilian targets such as hospitals and residential buildings are attacked." This approach saves lives, as evidenced by the rescue of an injured boy after six hours and a man who spent eight hours buried under the rubble.
Lyubov's son hashly called out to her: "Sasha!" She was in her second-floor apartment when she felt the explosion and was launched into an assault of broken glass, window frames, and dust. Family managed to pull her to safety. Uninjured but shaken, Lyubov sits patiently on a stool in front of her house with her walking stick, awaiting new developments.
Clean-up operations surround her home. Lyubov reminisces about her life there, raising five children, and working diligently in a factory for 37 years. "In these trying times, one needs a dash of humor," she quips. "Unfortunately, we're constantly crying here." Her daughter-in-law emerges in tears, informing Lyubov of her neighbor's passing.
In another part of the city, 38-year-old Natalya awaits in line with her eight-year-old daughter Veronika. They are collecting sheets to replace the loss of windows. Natalya has spent 35 years in that apartment. As she prepared to bake a birthday cake for her two-year-old son Andryi, the explosion struck her neighborhood. "The shockwave lifts you up, throws you against the wall," she recalls. Frustrated, she stumbled upon the children. Despite the hysteria, screams, and tears, the family eventually made it to safety in the subway.
A New Chapter Awaits
Dmytro, a 40-year-old soldier with a cast on his leg, stands at a cordon and takes in the chaos. Nearby, his sister's house lies shattered and windowless. A two-story building just 30 meters away was hit directly. Dmytro, visibly moved, wipes away tears as he shows pictures of his sister's devastated apartment. He shares that rescue efforts were difficult, as emergency services wouldn't allow anyone to move about. The number of missing people remains uncertain, says DSNS spokesman Petro, while the world looks towards peace negotiations.
For Dmytro and the residents of Svyatoshinsky, uncertainty looms. Many now face the prospect of finding new homes, having lost everything during the assault. Dmytro expresses his dissatisfaction with the proposed negotiations: "These conditions they seek are unacceptable. The Russians must be held accountable for what they've done here." While military victory seems elusive, they must be economically weakened, Dmytro believes.
Source: ntv.de
In-depth analysis:- Historical Background: Prior to this event, Russia had been involved in an ongoing conflict with Ukraine over Crimea since 2014[2]. However, the violence has escalated dramatically in recent months, with ongoing bombings and air strikes on various cities and infrastructure.
References:1. Sakhteman, L. (2025). Massive Russian Air Strike Hits Kyiv. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/24/world/europe/kyiv-air-strike.html2. BBC. (2014). Timeline: Ukraine crisis. BBC News. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26523664
Tags:- Ukraine- Conflict- Air Strikes- Kyiv- Russia- Casualties- Rescue Operation
Additional Enrichment DataThe Russian air strikes on Kyiv, Ukraine, took place on April 24, 2025. The scale of the attack was unprecedented, with Russia launching:- 66 ballistic and cruise missiles- 4 plane-launched air-to-surface missiles- 145 Shahed and decoy drones (source: Sakhteman, L. 2025)
Apart from the casualties and injuries, the attacks led to widespread destruction, particularly within residential areas of Kyiv. According to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, at least 25 residential buildings, a school, and a kindergarten were damaged. As a result, over 16,000 people had to seek shelter in the city's metro system. (source: Sakhteman, L. 2025)
- After surviving a traumatic experience in the Russian assault on Kyiv, a community member calls for others to share the story, emphasizing that every voice matters.
- In the wake of the devastating attack on April 24, 2025, 76-year-old blind pensioner Lyubov, residing in Kyiv's Svyatoshinsky district, was amongst those who lost her home due to extensive damage.
- As a result of the assault on April 24, Lyubov, who has lived in her Kyiv apartment for 47 years, now faces the challenge of finding a new place to live.
- The attack on April 24, 2025, was characterized by the use of large numbers of ballistic and cruise missiles, plane-launched air-to-surface missiles, and drones, striking various urban areas, including at least 15 locations in Kyiv alone.
- The Ukrainian Government has expressed concerns over the violent attacks on civilians, as 25 residential buildings, a school, and a kindergarten were targeted and severely damaged in Kyiv, forcing over 16,000 people to seek refuge in the metro system.
