Russian strikes wound at least 20 in Ukraine's capital as child is killed in separate attack

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian drone and missile strikes wounded at least 20 people in Kyiv, damaged residential buildings and caused blackouts across swaths of Ukraine early Friday, authorities said. A child also was killed in separate attacks in the southeast of the country.

In the heart of the Ukrainian capital, rescue crews pulled more than 20 people out of a 17-story apartment building as flames engulfed the sixth and seventh floors. Five people were hospitalized, while others received first aid at the scene, authorities said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of lashing out against Ukrainian cities in response to frontline failures in the east. “They can show nothing on the battlefield. All they can do is attack our power sector ... and attack our cities,” Zelenskyy told reporters late Friday.

Residents in a central Kyiv district that suffered one of the attacks described scene of chaos during the overnight strike.

“Everyone was sleeping and suddenly there was such a sharp sound; it was clear that something was flying. I managed to pull the blanket over my head, and then the strike hit — it blew out the windows, and the glass flew almost all the way to the door," 61-year-old resident Tetiana Lemishevska told The Associated Press.

"The fire was on the sixth or seventh floor at first, and the flames went up quickly and spread to other floors. So all the people who could left the building without knowing how it would end,” she said.

Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko also described the attack as “one of the largest concentrated strikes" against Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Ukraine’s national energy operator, Ukrenergo, reported power outages in Kyiv and the wider region, as well as in the Sumy, Kharkiv, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Cherkasy regions.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that Friday’s attack knocked out power on both sides of the city, divided by the Dnipro River, while Ukraine’s biggest electricity operator, DTEK, said that repair work was already underway on multiple damaged thermal plants.

Russia's Defense Ministry on Friday said the strikes had targeted energy facilities supplying Ukraine's military. It did not give details of those facilities, but said Russian forces used Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and strike drones against them.

The energy sector has been a key battleground since Russia launched its all-out invasion of neighboring Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

Each year, Russia has tried to cripple the Ukrainian power grid before the bitter winter season, apparently hoping to erode public morale. Ukraine’s winter temperatures run from late October through March, with January and February the coldest months.

Ukraine’s air force said Friday that the latest Russian barrage included 465 strike and decoy drones, as well as 32 missiles of various types. Air defenses intercepted or jammed 405 drones and 15 missiles, it said.

In the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, residential areas and energy sites were pounded with attack drones, missiles and guided bombs, killing a 7-year-old boy and wounding his parents and others, military administration officials said. A hydroelectric plant in the area was taken offline as a precaution, they said.

The intensified attacks in recent weeks, prompted Zelenskyy Friday to appeal for more international support to boost his country's air defenses.

A senior Ukrainian delegation is due to visit the United States next week. Zelenskyy said he was counting on U.S. President Donald Trump to apply pressure on Moscow, adding that he was in discussions with U.S. officials about the possible provision of various long-range precision strike weapons, including Tomahawk cruise missiles and more ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles.

Ukraine, he said, would need substantial amount. “When you have 40, 50 or 60 ACATMS, between us, it’s nothing,” he said. “If you want to have something and see real effect, then you have to provide, to deliver, the number which can give you this effect.”

Zelenskyy said was encouraged by the U.S.-brokered ceasefire aimed at ending the war in Gaza and urged Trump to exert similar pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop the war in Ukraine.

“I hope he will use all the instruments: Tomahawks, sanctions, the diplomatic way, the financial way, tariffs, everything to stop Putin,” he said.

Associated Press journalist Vasilisa Stepanenko contributed to this report.

Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy talks during his press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy talks during his press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

A rescuer helps an injured man after a Russian strike on a residential building in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Dan Bashakov)

Rescuers carry an injured woman into an ambulance after a Russian strike on a residential neighborhood in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Dan Bashakov)

Paramedics evacuate an injured woman after a Russian strike on a residential building in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Dan Bashakov)

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian attack in Brovary, near Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, emergency services personnel work the scene following a Russian attack in Brovary, near Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

Rescuers carry an injured woman into an ambulance after a Russian strike on a residential neighborhood in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

A residential building is damaged by a Russian strike on a residential neighborhood in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

DUBLIN (AP) — Ireland kept alive its Six Nations title hopes and buried Scotland's in a familiar-looking 43-21 victory to launch the final round on Saturday.

The Irish are three points ahead of France, which hosts England in the day's last match in Paris. France can take the title by beating England or even drawing with a bonus point.

If not, Ireland could emerge as the champion from starting the day in third place.

The Irish at least won the Triple Crown for a fourth time in five seasons, denying the Scots their first sweep of the home nations since 1990.

Both sides began the match with title ambitions. But the Scots had ghosts to exorcize. They'd won only once in Dublin in 26 years, not since 2010, and never at Aviva Stadium. They'd also lost their last 11 contests to Ireland.

Ireland's modus operandi was power, controlling the gainline, and relentless pressure. Add terrific defense on Saturday against a Scotland that was unchanged from the side which put 50 points and seven tries on hapless France last weekend.

Ireland started fast again, scored six tries — three in each half — with five converted by Jack Crowley who added a penalty. Scotland trailed 19-7 at halftime and twice rallied to within five points, but each time Ireland had a quick response.

The game was intense and lively from the start.

The first scrum earned a penalty that moved Ireland into the Scotland 22, and fast hands fed fullback Jamie Osborne bursting between the posts for their quickest try of this championship, just after two minutes.

Scotland fired back in 19 phases. With big gains by forwards Jack Dempsey and George Turner, Finn Russell orchestrating, Darcy Graham finished out wide for his Scotland record-extending 38th try.

But an offside penalty against Graham sent Scotland reeling back to its tryline again, and Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan shot out of a collapsing maul for his 18th try, extending his Six Nations record for a forward.

Ireland was 19-7 ahead after 19 minutes with a try from first phase when midfielder Stuart McCloskey threw a huge pass to unmarked right wing Robert Baloucoune, whose pace beat the cover.

Ireland's defense in its 22 then turned over Scotland three times before halftime.

The Scottish backs finally clicked in the second half with tries by Russell and Rory Darge, but Ireland quickly restored 12-point leads after tries by Darragh Murray, a brief blood-bin replacement for Tadhg Beirne, and winger Tommy O'Brien.

Crowley added a penalty to give Ireland a three-score lead and Irish supporters broke into song. Just for unnecessary gloss to the scoreline, O'Brien scored his second try of the match after Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu spilled the ball with time up.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

Ireland's Dan Sheehan, right, dives over the line to score a try as Scotland's captain Sione Tuipulotu tries to tackle him during the Six Nations rugby union match between Ireland and Scotland, in Dublin, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Scotland's Finn Russell, from, scores a try during the Six Nations rugby union match between Ireland and Scotland, in Dublin, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Ireland's Jamie Osborne, right, scores a try as teammate Dan Sheehan celebrates during the Six Nations rugby union match between Ireland and Scotland, in Dublin, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Ireland's Robert Baloucoune, right, scores a try as Scotland's Darcy Graham watches on during the Six Nations rugby union match between Ireland and Scotland, in Dublin, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Ireland's Jamie Osborne, right, celebrates his teammates after scoring a try during the Six Nations rugby union match between Ireland and Scotland, in Dublin, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)