Russian Missile and Drone Barrage on Kyiv Kills at Least Ten in Deadliest Attack in Weeks

At least ten people have been killed and many more injured after Russia launched a large-scale overnight missile and drone assault on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, marking the first major attack on the city in more than two weeks. The barrage struck multiple residential neighborhoods, damaged critical infrastructure, and triggered widespread fires, leaving a trail of destruction across the capital.

According to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, the confirmed death toll has risen to at least ten, while emergency crews continue search and rescue operations in the affected areas. Local authorities said children were among the significant number of casualties, highlighting the devastating impact of the strikes on civilians.

Kyiv’s military administration chief, Tymur Tkachenko, accused Russia of deliberately targeting residential districts. He said the overnight assault caused severe damage to homes, public infrastructure, and an ambulance station, where at least one person was critically injured. Emergency responders battled multiple fires throughout the night, including a major blaze that engulfed a hotel in central Kyiv.

As dawn broke, images from the city revealed massive craters, destroyed vehicles, shattered buildings, and smoke rising from damaged neighborhoods. Residents emerged from bomb shelters to scenes of devastation after spending hours under continuous air raid alerts. During the attack, Ukraine’s air defense systems were seen firing across the night sky as drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles targeted the capital.

The strikes came only hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia was preparing a “massive” attack. The renewed offensive has raised concerns over an escalation in the conflict, with Ukrainian officials warning that civilians continue to bear the brunt of the violence.

Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, Olha Stefanishyna, described the assault as another horrific night for Kyiv’s residents, many of whom were forced to remain in shelters while explosions echoed across the city. She said fires and widespread destruction affected civilian infrastructure and residential buildings in several districts.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence said the operation targeted Ukrainian energy facilities, describing it as a response to recent Ukrainian strikes. However, Ukrainian officials insist the attacks primarily hit civilian areas, adding to the growing humanitarian toll of the war. Rescue teams remain on the ground as authorities assess the full extent of the destruction and search for additional victims beneath the rubble.