Six people were killed in a strike on the Russian city of Kursk after a deadly missile attack on Kiev

Another resident, Oksana, sent the BBC pictures of her destroyed apartment, with windows blown out and glass and bricks strewn across the floor.

“I don’t know how I survived,” he said.

“My balcony collapsed, half of my walls collapsed. My neighbor is so shocked that he can’t speak. I have no words for those who did this.”

A local journalist at the scene told the BBC that one of the nearby buildings was used by Ukraine’s Security Service, the SBU, and was likely the target of the strikes, although it was affected by most of the damage seen by the BBC. residential buildings.

In a statement confirming the attack, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that missiles were fired at the “command post” of the SBU in response to the attack on a chemical plant in the Rostov region of Russia two days ago.

But there is also speculation that Friday’s attack in Kiev may be linked to the killing of one person Russian Lieutenant General Igor Kirillovon Tuesday in Moscow.

Friday’s attack comes a day later Vladimir Putin’s year-end press conference and a phone show in which he threatened to fire more ballistic missiles at the Ukrainian capital.

There is concern in Kiev that Russia could use it Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile hit the capital. Earlier this month, Moscow tested a missile over the city of Dnieper.

On Friday morning, Ukrainian authorities issued a weather warning about the possible launch of an Oreshnik missile and urged people in Kiev to seek immediate shelter. It turned out to be a false alarm.