KYIV — Russia launched one of its largest missile and drone assaults of the war against Ukraine, killing at least 30 people in Kyiv and causing widespread destruction, Ukrainian authorities said, as Moscow described the barrage as retaliation for recent Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russian territory.
Emergency crews continued searching through collapsed apartment buildings and damaged residential areas on Friday after the overnight attack, which Ukrainian officials said struck dozens of locations across the capital. Kyiv authorities declared a day of mourning as rescue workers searched for survivors and identified victims.
Ukrainian officials said more than 90 people were injured and over 100 residential buildings sustained damage. Rescue operations remained underway, and authorities warned that casualty figures could rise as crews cleared debris.
Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched hundreds of drones alongside dozens of missiles in one of the largest aerial attacks of the conflict. Officials said air defenses intercepted many incoming weapons, but numerous projectiles penetrated defenses and struck residential neighborhoods and other sites across the city.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the assault and said Ukraine would respond. Visiting one of the damaged apartment buildings, he said Russia's attack had caused unprecedented destruction in the capital this year and renewed calls for additional air defense systems from Kyiv's Western partners.
Russia's Defense Ministry said the strikes targeted military-industrial facilities and energy infrastructure linked to Ukraine's defense sector. Moscow said the operation was carried out in retaliation for Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory that it said had disrupted energy infrastructure and contributed to fuel shortages. Reuters could not independently verify the Russian account of the intended targets.
Both Russia and Ukraine deny deliberately targeting civilians, although thousands of civilians have been killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The attack came after Ukraine intensified long-range drone strikes against targets inside Russia, including energy and military infrastructure. Russian authorities have reported civilian casualties and damage from some of those attacks, while Kyiv says its operations are aimed at military objectives supporting Russia's war effort.
The latest barrage underscored a continuing escalation in long-range attacks by both sides despite repeated international calls for restraint. Ukrainian officials said rescue operations would continue until all missing people had been accounted for, while authorities assessed damage across the capital and other affected regions.
