KYIV: Russia launched one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine overnight, firing hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles at Kyiv, killing at least 25 people, injuring 85 others and damaging around 130 buildings in the deadliest attack on the Ukrainian capital this year.
Explosions echoed across Kyiv for hours as residents sought shelter in underground metro stations and bomb shelters while thick smoke rose over the city.
According to Tymur Tkachenko, the death toll had reached 25 and could increase as rescue workers continued searching through collapsed buildings for survivors. He said several people remained missing in an eastern district of the capital.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the site of a partially destroyed apartment building and pledged that Ukraine would “definitely” respond to the attack.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin said it would continue intensifying pressure on Kyiv, describing the strikes as retaliation for recent Ukrainian drone attacks inside Russia.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko called the assault the “enemy’s most massive attack on the capital” and announced a day of mourning on Friday. Around 52,000 people, including 4,500 children, reportedly took refuge in the city’s metro stations during the bombardment.
Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 496 drones and 74 missiles, including ballistic missiles. Air defence systems intercepted 476 drones and 48 missiles, but significant damage was still reported across the city.
The strikes affected residential buildings as well as key facilities, including the National Institute of Biochemistry and a warehouse belonging to the Red Cross, where humanitarian aid valued at around $2 million was destroyed.
“Half the building has been destroyed. The roof is gone,” said Sabina Mambetova, a resident whose apartment was damaged. “I’ve been left without an apartment, alone with my child. I don’t know what to do now.”
Zelensky, who shortened an official visit to Dublin after receiving intelligence warnings of a possible large-scale attack, said delays by Ukraine’s allies in delivering promised air defence systems had contributed to the destruction.
“If our partners had delivered on their promises in a timely manner, I think we could have saved more homes and lives today,” Zelensky said. “All we ask of our partners is simply to do what we’ve agreed on. We’re not even asking for more.”
Russia’s Defence Ministry said the operation involved long-range, high-precision weapons targeting Ukrainian military and energy infrastructure.
Moscow described the strikes as retaliation for increased Ukrainian attacks on Russian fuel facilities, including a recent drone strike on an oil refinery in the Nizhny Novgorod region.
Following the attack, Kaja Kallas said the European Union was considering additional sanctions against Moscow after a building housing EU diplomats was also damaged in the bombardment.
