Russia attacked the Ukrainian capital with missiles early in the morning during the visit of European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell, who had to go to Ukraine with the rest of the delegation Basement floor used as a shelter in the Kiev hotel where he is, as EFE was able to verify.
The alarm, the forced the Spanish politician to go to the emergency shelter before starting his meeting program today – which also includes meetings with President Volodymyr Zelensky and other Ukrainian leaders – was declared at around 6:00 a.m. local time (3:00 GMT).
“Missiles over Kiev and over the east (of Ukraine),” the head of the Ukrainian capital’s military administration initially reported on Telegram. Shortly afterwards, the same official broadcaster added that “several missiles” were heading towards Kiev.
An hour after sirens sounded across the city warning of possible attacks, central Kiev resumed operations A huge explosion was heard, which could have been caused by the impact of a Russian missile from another projectile fired by Ukrainian air defense.
The head of the Kiev military administration himself confirmed at the time of the noise that the air defense had been activated and called on residents of the capital not to leave the shelters until the alert ends.
Most Ukrainians ignore the sirens that sound almost every night in much of the country due to their frequency and sometimes adhere to the so-called “two-wall rule,” which advises staying in rooms without windows that are better off protected outside, such as in the hallway or bathroom, to avoid direct impact from projectiles or debris.
A minority go to the subway or to the nearest emergency shelter. Borrell arrived in Kiev yesterday for a new two-day trip to Ukraine to show the EU’s military and political support for the country.