KYIV: At least two people were killed and seven others were injured in a New Year drone attack carried out by Russia on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, as reported by local authorities on Wednesday. The attack marks a sobering escalation in hostilities as the new year begins, with significant damage reported in various districts of the city.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Prosecutor General's Office released a statement indicating that one person succumbed to injuries sustained during the attack, while the number of injured has risen to seven, including two pregnant women. Rescue operations remain underway in response to the assault.

The Kyiv City Military Administration (KCMA) reported via Telegram that a body was recovered amid rescue efforts at a six-story residential building in the Pecherskyi district, which sustained damage from the attack. Additionally, a non-residential building in the same area was affected by the strike. In the Sviatoshynskyi district of Kyiv, falling debris led to damage of vehicles and garages, igniting a fire in a non-residential area, as confirmed by the KCMA.

Tymur Tkachenko, the recently appointed head of the KCMA, later updated on Telegram that the death toll had increased to two. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Air Force claimed through Telegram that its air defense systems successfully intercepted 63 out of 111 drones launched by Russia, which also targeted other regions, including Poltava, Sumy, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Zaporizhzhia, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Kirovohrad, and Mykolaiv.

Officials in the Chernihiv and Zaporizhzhia regions have reported damage to local infrastructure due to the attack. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to the incident on Telegram, condemning Russia's actions and emphasizing the persistent threat posed by the neighboring nation, even during significant times of celebration such as New Year's Eve.