KYIV — Russia launched one of its largest missile and drone attacks on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, this week, killing at least 27 people and injuring more than 90 in a barrage that Ukrainian officials said caused widespread damage to residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, while Moscow said it had struck military-related targets.
The overnight assault involved hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, including ballistic missiles, according to Ukraine's Air Force. Ukrainian authorities said the capital was the primary target, with strikes and falling debris hitting multiple districts across the city after air raid alerts lasted for hours.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko described it as the largest aerial assault on the capital since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022. Emergency services said apartment buildings, a hotel, an ambulance station, warehouses and other civilian facilities were damaged, while rescue crews searched through collapsed structures for survivors.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited one of the damaged residential sites and vowed that Ukraine would respond to the attack. He renewed calls for Western partners to accelerate deliveries of air defense systems and interceptor missiles, arguing that additional support could help protect civilians from future strikes.
Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched about 74 missiles and nearly 500 drones during the attack. It reported intercepting the vast majority of drones and many of the missiles, while acknowledging that several ballistic missiles penetrated air defenses and struck targets in and around Kyiv.
Russia's Defense Ministry said the strikes targeted what it described as military-industrial facilities and other infrastructure linked to Ukraine's armed forces. Moscow has said the operation was carried out in response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory and infrastructure. Reuters was not able to independently verify Russia's claims regarding the intended targets.
The attack prompted Kyiv authorities to declare a day of mourning as emergency workers continued recovery operations. Humanitarian organizations also reported significant losses, with the Ukrainian Red Cross saying one of its major warehouses in the capital was destroyed, resulting in the loss of large quantities of relief supplies.
The strike came as the war entered its fifth year, with both Russia and Ukraine continuing long-range attacks while diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have made little visible progress. As of Saturday, officials said rescue and damage assessment operations were continuing, while casualty figures could be revised as recovery efforts proceeded.
