Kyiv Declares Mourning Day as 12 Die in Russian Strike

Strike on Kyiv on August 20

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: During the night leading into August 20, Russian forces targeted Kyiv and its surroundings, killing 12 people and injuring 32 others. The assault hit multiple areas of the city-including Sviatoshynskyi, Solomianskyi, and Darnytskyi districts-causing destruction and fires. In response, August 21 has been declared a Day of Mourning in Kyiv, with national flags at half-mast and entertainment events banned.

Aftermath and Damage

In Sviatoshynskyi district, a strike landed on an industrial site, sparking blazes in two warehouse buildings covering 500 and 1,000 square meters. One body was found there, and a person was being pulled from the rubble. In Solomianskyi district, a nine-story residential building lost its 8th and 9th floors, with fire spreading from the 7th to the 9th floor. The blast shattered windows in homes and a medical facility, and caused fires involving cars, garages, and a shop. People were trapped in two residential buildings and a school shelter. At the medical facility, windows were blown out and a fire broke out in a utility room and a vehicle, though crews managed to put it out. In Darnytskyi district, a non-residential site was hit, leading to a fire in warehouses and vehicles covering around 1,000 square meters. Rescuers saved one person and handed them to medical staff.

Public transport in Kyiv also changed due to the attack. Trolleybus No. 8 now runs to Sevastopolska Square, while tram routes 11 and 17 have been temporarily rerouted through Dobryninska Street, Heroiv Polku Azov Street, and Heroiv Dnipra Street to the Heroiv Dnipra metro station. Ukrainian Railways adjusted several commuter and regional train services because of damaged railway infrastructure. Trains Nos. 6903 and 6905 now operate between Nizhyn and Bobryk instead of Nizhyn and Kyiv; Nos. 6902 and 6906 run between Bobryk and Nizhyn instead of Kyiv and Nizhyn. Regional train No. 893 travels from Konotop to Bobryk rather than Konotop to Kyiv, and regional train No. 894 goes from Bobryk to Nizhyn instead of Kyiv to Nizhyn. Routes Nos. 6909 and 6911 from Nizhyn to Kyiv-Volynskyi, as well as No. 6910 from Kyiv-Volynskyi to Nizhyn, have been canceled.

The casualty and damage information was released by Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, the Kyiv City Military Administration, and the State Emergency Service.

This assault highlights Russia's ongoing military aggression against Ukraine and its severe humanitarian toll on civilians. The Kyiv authorities continue working to protect residents and restore infrastructure damaged in the strikes.

What Ukrainian forces and the international community do next could be crucial in countering this aggression.

The recent attack on Kyiv is not an isolated incident, as evidenced by another devastating assault that occurred just prior, claiming 14 lives and leaving 22 injured. This ongoing violence underscores the urgent need for awareness and understanding of the broader context of these strikes. For more details on the previous attack and its impact on the region, see our coverage of the massive nighttime strike on the Kyiv region.