Ballistic missiles strike Kyiv as air-raid sirens blare
Multiple ballistic missiles hit Kyiv on the evening of Oct. 18, triggering simultaneous air-raid sirens and phone alerts, with no immediate details on damage or casualties.
In the evening of Oct. 18, Kyiv experienced a sudden barrage of ballistic missiles, with explosions occurring as air-raid sirens and phone alerts sounded across the city. Chief Editor Olga Rudenko reported that the sirens kept howling throughout the explosions, while a reporter at one outlet described having about three minutes to find shelter after receiving the mobile warning, a timeframe she said is common for ballistic missile threats.
The strike came hours after President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the United States had restarted intelligence sharing regarding Russian missile launches. Ukrainian officials have previously explained that satellite monitoring can suffer delays, and current weather may further disrupt the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) that tracks launches. At present, authorities have not provided details on the specific targets, the extent of damage, or any casualties resulting from the attack.
Why it matters
The missile strike underscores the ongoing danger to Kyiv's civilians and highlights challenges in early warning systems.
How this story developed
- Sep 17 Humanitarian collapse grips Russian-occupied Oleshky as food, medicine and evacuations halt
- Oct 7 A large‑scale missile and drone barrage hit Kyiv in the early hours.
- Oct 7 Two civilian deaths reported in Kyiv and simultaneous strikes hit other Ukrainian cities on Putin's birthday.
- Oct 7 Ukrainian air defenses reported downing 161 of the incoming missiles and drones.
- Oct 11 Recent Russian drone and missile raids have struck apartments near the family’s home in Boryspil.
- Oct 11 Power outages now affect additional neighborhoods in Kyiv.
- Oct 14 Russian missile and drone attacks over the past day killed at least ten people and wounded 91 across Ukraine, with Kyiv hit by ballistic missiles for a second night.
- Oct 15 Ukraine has depleted its stock of Patriot interceptor missiles, so almost all Russian ballistic missiles in the latest attack went uncaught.
- Oct 16 A Russian missile strike hit Kyiv's Darnytska CHP‑4 power plant, killing one and wounding dozens.
- Oct 17 A Ukrainian drone strike damaged an industrial area in Nevinnomyssk, Russia.
- Oct 17 Russian air and drone assaults killed a rescue‑service driver in Kherson and caused civilian casualties in multiple southern and eastern Ukrainian cities.
- Oct 18 Ukrainian drones launched a large-scale attack on St. Petersburg early on Oct. 18, triggering multiple explosions and fires across the city.
- Oct 18 Ukraine’s Patriot interceptor stockpile has been reported as exhausted amid the recent Russian missile barrage.
- Oct 18 Authorities confirmed one fatality and five injuries resulting from the St. Petersburg raid.
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