Kyiv Metro denies reports people were turned away during overnight attack as 56,000 sheltered

All stations were open and operating in shelter mode after the air raid alert was issued, the metro authority said.

"Information circulating in the media and on social networks claiming that people were allegedly denied entry to certain stations does not correspond to reality," the officials explained. “At the same time, such reports may have emerged because metro employees asked people to move from staff areas to station platforms.”

Some stations saw an "extremely large number of people" overnight, most of whom arrived around 10 p.m., while the metro was still operating on its regular passenger schedule.

The metro authority reminded residents that to use the subway as a shelter, people must arrive at a station before it stops passenger service for the night. Officials advised against bringing bulky items and asked people not to gather on escalators or in staff-only areas. A total of 46 underground metro stations are available as shelters during air raid alerts in Kyiv.

Overnight, Kyiv Telegram channels had circulated claims that some metro stations were overcrowded and that staff were allegedly turning people away during the air raid alert.

Russia launched a massive overnight attack on Ukraine on July 30, using 74 missiles and 284 drones.

Explosions were heard in Kyiv. A ballistic missile strike sparked fires in two districts of the capital, killing one person and injuring two others. The attack also damaged the glass pavilion at the Pochaina metro station's underground crossing.