Russia unleashes missile barrage on Kyiv as death toll from Kryvyi Rih strikes rises to 19

Ukraine: Russian attacks leave devastation in Kyiv

Russian air strikes hit the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on Sunday, killing one person and injuring three others, while the death toll from Friday’s devastating attack on Kryvyi Rih rose to 19, including many children. The Kyiv victim was found near the epicentre of the strike in the Darnytskyi district, where fires broke out in multiple non-residential areas, causing severe damage to buildings and cars.

In a statement on social media, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested the intensifying Russian attacks showed there is still insufficient international pressure on Moscow. He said Russia has launched more than 1,460 guided aerial bombs, nearly 670 attack drones and more than 30 missiles at Ukraine in the past week alone. Mr Zelensky said: "These attacks are (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s response to all international diplomatic efforts. Each of our partners - the United States, all of Europe, the entire world — has seen that Russia intends to continue the war and the killing."

Ukraine (Image: State Emergency Service of Ukraine)

Firefighters in Kyiv (Image: State Emergency Service of Ukrai)

"That is why there can be no easing of pressure. All efforts must be aimed at guaranteeing security and bringing peace closer.”

Meanwhile, officials said the death toll from Friday's attack on the central city of Kryvyi Rih had continued to grow, with 19 dead — including many children, and a further 75 wounded. One, identified by Mr Zelensky as Timofii, was just three years old.

Oleksandr Vilkul, head of Kryvyi Rih's military administration, declared three days of mourning for the attack, starting on April 7. He said there was "pain in the hearts of millions of people".

Mr Vilkul added: "Together we will stand. And no matter how difficult it is, we will win. The enemy will be punished for every Ukrainian and for every mother's tear."

A man looks on next to goods disposed at a flea market as smoke rises in the distance (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Local authorities said the Kryvyi Rih strike damaged 44 apartment buildings and 23 private houses.

The Russian Defence Ministry insisted on Friday that it had carried out a high-precision missile strike with a high explosive warhead on a restaurant where a meeting with unit commanders and Western instructors was taking place.

They claimed the strike killed 85 military personnel and foreign officers and destroyed 20 vehicles.

The Ukrainian General Staff rejected Russia's characterisation of the events.

A woman with a dog shelters in Kyiv subway amid a Russian ballistic missile attack (Image: Global Images Ukraine via Getty)

Elsewhere, Russian troops fired 23 missiles and 109 strike and decoy drones across Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian air force said on Sunday.

Thirteen missiles and 40 drones were shot down, while 53 decoy drones were jammed and did not reach their destinations, it said.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said that its air defences had destroyed 11 Ukrainian drones, including eight over the Rostov region and two over the Kursk region.

The intensifying missile and drone strikes came after the deployment of Russian bombers, capable of carrying nuclear payloads, with NATO scrambling jets in response to the increased threat.