Russian missile strikes kill 17 in Kyiv, Guterres demands ceasefire
Russian ballistic missile strikes killed 17 people and injured 43 in Kyiv on Thursday, local officials said.
Source: United Nations News · August 21, 2026 at 4:36 AM · AI-assisted report
Single-sourceKUALA LUMPUR, 21 AUGUST 2026 —
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Russian ballistic missile strikes killed 17 people and injured 43 in Kyiv on Thursday, local officials said.
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Ukraine’s Solomianskyi district bore the brunt of the attack, where the upper floors of a nine-storey apartment block were set ablaze, killing seven residents. The mayor declared a day of mourning. Across the city, about 20 residential buildings, a school, a children’s hospital and a kindergarten were heavily damaged, according to local media.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the strikes. “Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure are a clear violation of international humanitarian law, wherever they occur, and they must stop immediately,” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric on Thursday.
The UN’s humanitarian aid office (OCHA) said July was the deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians since April 2022, with 1,396 killed and 7,978 injured in the first six months of 2026.
UN relief chief Tom Fletcher, visiting Kyiv for World Humanitarian Day, inspected Thursday’s damage and described the destruction as severe. The UN and its partners provided first aid, psychological support, hot meals, construction materials and cash assistance to affected families.
Russia meanwhile claimed to have intercepted 726 Ukrainian drones overnight on Wednesday and Thursday, while two civilians were wounded by drone strikes in Russia’s Ulyanovsk and Belgorod regions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said delayed deliveries of air-defence missiles from allies were costing civilian lives.
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