In a recent escalation of hostility, Russia unleashed a barrage of drones and missiles on Ukraine, resulting in the tragic loss of three lives and injuries to at least 16 individuals in Kyiv, as reported by Ukrainian officials.

The assault extended to the western city of Lviv, where a key infrastructure site was hit by a mysterious ballistic missile, according to Mayor Andriy Sadoviy. The Ukrainian Air Force’s Western Command later revealed that this missile traveled at more than 8,000 miles per hour. Efforts are underway to determine the missile’s exact model.

Multiple neighborhoods in Kyiv felt the impact of this offensive, stated Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration. In the Desnyanskyi district, a drone crashed onto the roof of a high-rise, while another location in the same area saw significant damage to the lower floors of a residential building.

Further damage was reported in the Dnipro district, where debris from a drone led to a fire in a multi-story building.

The attack also disrupted essential services, with parts of Kyiv experiencing interruptions in water and electricity supply, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

The attack took place just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alerted the nation about Russia’s intentions for a large-scale offensive. He said that Russia aimed to take advantage of the frigid weather in the capital, making roads and streets perilously icy.