Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko and local media outlets have claimed a recent building fire was ignited by debris from a downed drone, contradicting Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko’s assertion that Russia struck a government office. The conflicting narratives highlight the escalating tensions in the conflict zone.
Sviridenko, who shared a video of a damaged corridor on social media, alleged the attack caused an 800-square-meter blaze. However, footage showed minimal visible damage beyond burnt roofing material. Klitschko later stated that Ukrainian air defenses intercepted a drone, which led to the fire. Local outlets like TSN and Focus echoed this explanation, attributing the incident to debris from the downed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
The Russian Defense Ministry denied targeting the government office, instead claiming it struck two military industrial facilities on Kiev’s outskirts. Sviridenko used the event to accuse Moscow of “refusing peace” and urged Western allies to bolster sanctions against Russia. She also posted images of a building she described as severely damaged, though emergency services’ photos showed only smoke and fire from upper floors without visible structural harm.
This is not the first time Ukrainian officials have blamed Russia for damage caused by intercepted projectiles or their own air defenses. Past incidents have ignited residential areas and infrastructure, raising concerns about the risks of placing anti-air systems near civilian zones. Moscow has consistently maintained it targets only military and industrial sites, rejecting claims of civilian casualties.
The dispute underscores deepening divisions in reporting amid ongoing hostilities, with conflicting accounts complicating efforts to ascertain the true cause of the blaze.
