NEWSFLASH: Christmas terror in central Kyiv

As the world prepares for Christmas, Ukrainian rescuers are working at this hour to save lives in the Kyiv. The Counteroffensive visited the scene of the tragedy. Here’s what we know at this hour.

Editor’s Note: I felt the explosions this morning, which rattled the room I was in. This attack was the closest yet to our office, and from what we can tell the deepest strike into the heart of the city so far.

Every day we take risks because we believe in our mission. This holiday season, consider upgrading to a paid subscription or hitting our tip jar. Thank you for reading, and refusing to yield to cynicism and apathy.

Kyiv under Russian attack, December 20, 2024. (Photos via United24 Media)

Christmas carols playing in cafes were abruptly halted by massive early morning explosions in central Kyiv, causing chaos that has ensnared much of the city.

While the rest of the world is buying Christmas gifts and planning holiday menus, the atmosphere in Kyiv is different: another Russian attack, this time in the center of Kyiv.

The Russians initially launched several groups of Shaheds kamikaze drones towards Ukraine, and then massively attacked Kyiv with ballistic missiles from ground-based installations.

Five Iskander missiles were fired, all of which were shot down. But the attack caused debris to fall in five districts of Kyiv, fires to break out, and damage to heating infrastructure meant to help residents keep warm through the winter.

The explosion shook the building that holds The Counteroffensive’s office (ie. Tim’s living room) near the heart of Kyiv. Nearby, one person was killed and 12 people were injured, five of whom were hospitalized.

As a result of the Russian missile attack on Kyiv, a unique monument of national importance, the Roman Catholic Church of St. Nicholas, was damaged.

St. Nicholas Church in Kyiv after the Russian attack, December 20, 2024. Photo by Kyiv Military City Administration.

After the paywall: The Counteroffensive team jumped into action after the attacks, compiling the location of damaged sites, and reporting out the tragedy.

Find out what happened to the Toronto Business Center, the extent of the damage to St. Nicholas Church, and the destruction where Myroslava took her wedding day photos.