It was the terrifying moment that a missile struck a Kyiv residential building for the first time since Russia launched its attack on Ukraine.
Emergency services rushed to a residential tower block in the south-western outskirts of the capital city, near Zhuliany airport — Kyiv's second airport — after it was hit.
At least two civilians were killed by the shelling, the Ukrainian Defence Ministry said in a statement, with four injured.
The State Emergency Service in Kyiv earlier said 80 residents were evacuated as the missile hit five floors of the high-rise.
"The flats between 16th and 20th floors of the building were damaged and six flats were completely destroyed," spokeswoman Svetlana Vodolaga said.
A video, recorded by a smartphone and published on Twitter, appears to capture the moment the missile struck the building from inside.
The attack came on Saturday as Russia launched missile strikes on several Ukrainian cities, intensifying its offensive.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko shared an image on social media showing a gaping hole on one side of the building that ravaged apartments on several storeys.
He urged the city's residents to shelter from danger.
Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba also posted a photo on social media, calling on the world to "stop Russian war criminals" and their attacks on "our peaceful city".
The missile blew out the walls of several individual apartments, blackening interiors and spreading debris.
Several hours later, an American journalist went from room to room within one of the flats, surveying the damage and sharing a video on Twitter.
Russia has not claimed responsibility for the attack, with its defence ministry releasing a statement on Saturday saying its offensive excluded "damage to residential and social infrastructure".
"During the night, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation launched a strike with long-range precision weapons using air-and sea-launched cruise missiles against Ukrainian military infrastructure facilities," Major General Igor Konashenkov said in a video statement.
Some Kyiv residents could be seen evacuating apartments on Saturday after news that the high-rise units had been hit.
On its Facebook page, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry urged citizens to prepare for more attacks on residential areas.
"Hide indoors, for example in the bathroom, and cover yourself with something that will prevent injury from bullet fragments.
"Active fighting is taking place on the streets of our city. Please stay calm and be as careful as possible!"
ABC/wires
