Russian Missile Barrage Kills Seven, Including Two Children, as Ukraine Faces Renewed Wave of Attacks

At least seven people, including two young children, were killed and several others injured after Russia launched a fresh wave of missile and drone strikes across Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday, according to Ukrainian officials. The attacks targeted multiple regions, causing widespread destruction and intensifying concerns over the continued escalation of the conflict.

One of the deadliest strikes occurred in a village near the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, where a ballistic missile struck a private home. Local authorities confirmed that two girls, aged five and twelve, were among the six people killed in the attack. Eight others were injured, including two children, while emergency crews continued search and rescue operations amid fears that the casualty count could increase.

Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, also came under heavy attack. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that one person was killed and several fires broke out in three non-residential buildings following the overnight bombardment. Residents sought refuge in metro stations as air raid sirens echoed across the city, with many spending the night underground for safety.

Further west, explosions were reported in the city of Lviv, where Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said residential buildings sustained damage. Officials are continuing to assess the extent of the destruction while emergency services respond to affected areas.

President Volodymyr Zelensky had warned on Wednesday that intelligence indicated Russia was preparing a large-scale assault. He urged citizens to remain vigilant and immediately respond to air raid alerts, emphasizing the ongoing threat posed by missile and drone attacks.

The latest strikes came shortly after Zelensky’s visit to Washington, D.C., where he met U.S. President Donald Trump. During the meeting, the Ukrainian leader reportedly requested approval for Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptor missiles under license, arguing that expanding domestic air defense capabilities would strengthen the country’s ability to protect civilians and critical infrastructure from continued Russian attacks.

The renewed bombardment underscores the persistent dangers facing Ukrainian communities as the war continues. With civilian casualties mounting and infrastructure repeatedly targeted, the latest attacks serve as another reminder of the conflict’s devastating human toll and the urgent need for effective measures to safeguard lives amid an increasingly volatile security situation.