Fire erupts at Kyiv electrical substation after Russian drone strikes

Firefighters responded in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Monday morning, December 19, after drone strikes on the city left an undefined part of the city’s “critical infrastructure” in flames, officials said.

The State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Kyiv released footage showing first responders fighting the fire at what appeared to be an electricity substation of some kind. The specific kind of plant was not stated, however.

The service said that by 7:40 am the blaze had been extinguished.

The Kyiv City Military Administration said 23 Iranian Shahed drones were seen in the sky above the capital, with Ukrainian air defense destroying 18.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said several explosions were heard in the Solomyanskyi and Shevchenkivskyi districts of the capital. Debris damaged a roadway in the Solomyanskyi district, as well as the windows of a high-rise building in the Shevchenkivskyi district, according to the Kyiv City Military Administration.

Rescuers extinguished smoldering debris in the districts, the State Emergency Service said.