Image source, Reuters
According to officials, a major drone and missile attack carried out by Russian forces on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv last night resulted in at least 13 fatalities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a warning just hours earlier that Russia was preparing a large-scale assault, sparking alarm across city buildings and leading to evacuations in several neighborhoods.
Taimur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, reported that many children were among the casualties. “The enemy is deliberately targeting residential areas, killing civilians,” he said Thursday morning.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that their strikes targeted energy production facilities in response to Ukrainian attacks.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 74 missiles and deployed 496 drones during the nighttime assault on Kyiv.
While the country’s air defense system intercepted many, 25 ballistic missiles and 12 drones successfully struck 33 different locations.
Explosions Throughout the Night
Image source, AFP via Getty Images
Teams in Kyiv reported hearing loud explosions throughout the night. By 3:30 AM local time, 10 significant strikes had been recorded, including a major fire in the city center and multiple blazes at other locations.
Tracer rocket fire and explosions from the air defense system illuminated the night sky vividly.
At dawn on Thursday, massive craters created by the explosions were visible throughout the city.
Burning vehicles, damaged buildings, and other structures were visible amid the bomb destruction’s aftermath.
Fires also broke out in several parts of the city, with one ambulance station sustaining damage where at least one person was critically injured.
Firefighters battled a blaze at a hotel located in the city center.
Emergency services have confirmed at least 13 deaths and over 30 injuries as a result of the attacks.
Officials reported that 34 people have been rescued so far, and rescue operations are ongoing.
Ukraine’s Appeal
Image source, AFP via Getty Images
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha addressed his country’s partners, calling for the provision of additional air defense systems.
He stated that Ukraine requires not just “words condemning the attacks,” but concrete measures from partners to stop Russian terror.
On social media platform X, he wrote that Russia targeted residential buildings and civilian infrastructure and urged partners to tighten sanctions against Russia further.
This marks Russia’s first large-scale missile and drone assault in over two weeks.
Russian media, citing the defense ministry, reported that attacks also targeted military hubs in central and eastern Ukraine.
According to the ministry, these strikes were in response to recent Ukrainian attacks on energy centers stretching from Moscow to the Black Sea region.
