Kyiv endures a third air attack in five days as Russia steps up bombardment

Multiple explosions were heard in Kyiv on Monday morning as a Russian attack hit the Ukrainian capital for the third time in five days.

The attack came amid an apparent escalation of aerial bombardment of cities by the Kremlin’s forces as the war stretches into its third year with the front line largely stationary.

Nine people were injured in the strike on the Ukrainian capital, the Ukraine Rescue Service said.

The Pecherskyi district was the hardest hit with missile debris causing damage to homes in two districts and a local college gym in another district, Ukraine’s National Police said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed his appeal for Western partners to provide more air defence systems to protect against the unrelenting attacks.

“We never tire of repeating that Ukraine needs more air defence,” he said.

“This is security for our cities and saved human lives.”

Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said Russia fired two ballistic missiles at Kyiv from occupied Crimea in the daylight attack, but both were intercepted above the city.

On Thursday, Russia attacked Kyiv for the first time in six weeks, firing more than two dozen missiles before dawn.

On Friday, Russia unleashed a massive attack against Ukraine’s energy sector, calling the assault retaliation for recent strikes on Russian soil.

Days of intense Ukrainian shelling of the Russian border region of Belgorod led Russia to announce plans to evacuate about 9,000 children.

The attack came three days after a concert hall attack in Russia that killed more than 130 people.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to tie the attack to Ukraine, even though an affiliate of the Islamic State group claimed responsibility.

Mr Putin could use the Moscow attack to shore up support for the war and as a pretext to escalate attacks on Ukraine, analysts said.