At least nine people were killed and over 70 injured in what has become the deadliest attack on Kyiv this year, after Russia launched an intense six-hour assault using a mix of missiles and drones overnight, Ukrainian officials reported on Thursday.
Dozens of buildings were destroyed or damaged, and fires erupted across multiple districts. The Sviatoshynskyi district suffered the worst damage, with emergency responders working through the rubble to find survivors. Among the injured were six children, and many residents have been displaced.
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Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed the fatality count, while Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said mobile phones could still be heard ringing under debris. Sniffer dogs and climbing teams were active at 13 sites across the capital, where over 40 fires were ignited by the barrage.
According to Ukraine’s air force, Russia launched 145 drones and 70 missiles—including 11 ballistic missiles. While 112 aerial threats were intercepted, many still struck targets in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Pavlohrad. In Kharkiv alone, a school, hospital, hotel, and several homes were hit.
The renewed violence comes despite a 44-day-old ceasefire proposal initiated by the U.S., which Ukraine has upheld. Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of undermining peace talks and escalating violence, even as diplomatic efforts falter.
