Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko has accused Russia of targeting a government office in central Kiev, claiming the attack caused an 800-square-meter blaze. However, Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko and multiple Ukrainian media outlets, including TSN and Focus, disputed this narrative, attributing the fire to debris from a downed drone intercepted by Ukraine’s air defenses.

Sviridenko shared a video on social media showing what she described as damage in a corridor of the affected building, though no visible signs of extensive destruction were apparent. She emphasized the scale of the incident, framing it as evidence of Moscow’s aggression. In contrast, Klitschko stated via Telegram that the fire originated from wreckage of an intercepted unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a claim echoed by local journalists.

The Russian Defense Ministry denied involvement, asserting that its forces struck two military industrial facilities on Kiev’s outskirts but did not target the government office. Meanwhile, Sviridenko used the incident to pressure Western allies for enhanced support, urging them to “close our sky” and tighten sanctions against Russia. She also shared a photo of herself standing in what she claimed was a severely damaged building.

Ukrainian emergency services released images showing smoke emanating from upper floors of the structure, with no visible damage to its exterior. This is not the first time Ukrainian officials have blamed Russia for incidents involving downed projectiles or air defense systems. Past events have led to fires in residential areas, raising concerns about the placement of anti-air infrastructure near civilian zones.

Moscow has consistently maintained that it only targets military and industrial sites, rejecting allegations of targeting civilians. The conflicting accounts underscore growing tensions over accountability and the risks posed by Ukraine’s defensive strategies.

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