Five people have been confirmed dead in a Ukrainian strike on the town of Rylsk in Russia’s western Kursk region. The attack, which occurred on Friday at 15:30 local time (12:30 GMT), also resulted in nine others being hospitalized, according to the acting governor of the Kursk region, Alexander Khinshtein. In his latest update via Telegram, Khinshtein clarified that there were no children among those killed. The attack damaged several buildings, including a cultural centre, a fitness complex, a school, and residential homes.
Russian authorities had initially reported six fatalities, including a child, but the death toll was later revised to five. The town of Rylsk lies just 25 kilometers from the Ukrainian border and has been the site of recent hostilities, following a Ukrainian surprise cross-border offensive in August.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials reported a fresh missile strike by Russia on Kyiv, which caused significant damage to a building housing several embassies, including those of Albania, Argentina, North Macedonia, Palestine, Portugal, and Montenegro. The Ukrainian military confirmed that one person was killed, and at least nine others were injured in the attack. Despite the significant damage to buildings, it appears no diplomats were harmed.
The strike on Kyiv, which occurred on the same day, is believed to have targeted a Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) command post, with residential buildings nearby also suffering extensive damage. The SBU site may have been the main target following an earlier Ukrainian strike on a chemical plant in Russia's Rostov region. However, speculation has also emerged that the attack could be linked to the killing of Russian General Igor Kirillov in Moscow earlier this week.
Video footage from Kyiv showed widespread destruction in the Pecherskyi District, where St Nicholas Cathedral, Kyiv's second oldest Roman Catholic church, had its windows shattered by a nearby blast. One local, a restaurant owner whose establishment was severely damaged, condemned the attack on social media, calling the perpetrators "beasts."
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the missile strike on Kyiv, claiming it was a response to the Ukrainian strike on the Russian plant. Meanwhile, Ukrainian military sources stated that most of the 65 drones and missiles launched overnight were intercepted.
As tensions continue to escalate, there are concerns that Russia may use more advanced weaponry, such as the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile, which was test-fired earlier this month. Ukrainian authorities had issued a precautionary air alert on Friday morning, fearing a missile launch, but it later turned out to be a false alarm.
The recent attacks come just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s end-of-year press conference, where he threatened further missile strikes on Kyiv, signaling that the conflict is likely to intensify in the months ahead.