Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Russian missile and drone strikes tore open apartment buildings in Kyiv early Thursday, killing at least 13 people and wounding dozens, hours after President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Moscow was preparing a “massive attack”.

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AFP journalists in central and eastern Kyiv heard more than a dozen explosions and saw residents – some with children and pets – rushing to shelter in metro stations.

In the morning, locals stood on the rubble of destroyed apartment blocks, ripped open by the barrage, as smoke poured over the Kyiv skyline.

Blasts started echoing out over the Ukrainian capital late Wednesday, lasting into the early hours of Thursday as Russian missiles and drones rained down on residential areas in the centre of the city.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least 13 people had been killed, with 86 wounded.

Kyiv urged its allies to send more air defence.

“Do not delay decisions on air defense for Ukraine! This is our main request to our partners after Kyiv suffered a night of horror,” Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said on social media.

Russia fired 496 drones and 74 missiles – including hard-to-intercept ballistic projectiles – Ukraine’s air force said.

It said it shot down 48 of the missiles and 476 drones.

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