Six people sustained injuries when Russian strikes hammered a bustling Kyiv marketplace known for its book and poster vendors.
The attack formed part of a wider barrage that swept across Ukraine, leaving five dead nationwide according to Ukrainian officials. Meanwhile, Russian authorities reported seven fatalities on their side from Ukrainian counterstrikes.
Firefighters scrambled to douse remaining hot spots at the damaged market as BBC Ukraine correspondent Dan Johnson surveyed the scene. The assault struck a commercial hub where residents regularly browse literature and artwork, transforming routine shopping into chaos.
The casualty figures underscore the relentless tit-for-tat aerial warfare now defining the conflict. Both nations continue trading long-range attacks, each side inflicting civilian harm while pointing blame across the border.
Ukrainian emergency crews worked through debris and smoke to secure the area, searching for any additional victims. The market, a fixture of everyday Kyiv life, now joins the growing list of civilian sites battered by the intensifying exchanges.
As rescue operations proceed, authorities expect the toll may shift. The strikes mark yet another escalation in a campaign that shows no sign of relenting, with ordinary Ukrainians and Russians alike bearing the cost of a war increasingly fought from the skies.
