The city of Kyiv awakened by explosions and air raid sirens. A Russian missile attack hit the Ukrainian capital early Wednesday (Dec. 13), injuring dozens of people, authorities said.

In a statement, the head of the authority, Serhiy Popko, said 51 people were injured, including six children. All have received treatment, he added, adding that he had not yet received any information about possible deaths.

According to him, "about ten cases of falling debris" of projectiles have been recorded and have affected in particular the district of Desnyansky where 17 residents, including seven children, were evacuated from a burning building.

Ukraine's air force said Russia launched its assault at "precisely 3 a.m. (1 GMT)," sending <> missiles toward Kyiv that were shot down.

The city's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, claimed that "as a result of the enemy's night-time missile attack on the Dniprovsky district of the capital, an apartment building was damaged." Some 15 residents were evacuated and, according to Vitali Klitschko, a children's hospital was damaged.

Russians on the offensive

This is the second attack on Kyiv in the space of a week. Early Monday, eight Russian missiles flying in the direction of the capital were shot down by Ukrainian air defenses, according to Kyiv. Four people were taken care of by the emergency services.

In the south, Odessa was also the target of a Russian attack, the city's mayor Gennady Trukhanov wrote on Telegram. "Unfortunately, there are wounded," he said, without giving a figure. According to the military, Iranian-made Shahed drones were shot down over the city.

The attack comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is currently in Washington, for the third time in a year, seeking support. He assured that he had received "positive" signals from the US Congress, despite very sluggish negotiations on the adoption of a new envelope for Kiev.

With AFP

This week's recapFrance 24 invites you to look back on the news that marked the week

Subscribe now

Take international news with you wherever you go! Download the France 24 app