Kyiv, Ukraine — Russia launched a large-scale overnight assault on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv early Tuesday, killing civilians, damaging residential buildings, and leaving residents feared trapped under rubble, Ukrainian authorities said.
At least 13 people were killed across the country in the coordinated strikes, which Ukraine’s military said involved more than 600 drones and dozens of missiles, including hypersonic weapons. Four deaths were reported in Kyiv, while nine others were confirmed in the central city of Dnipro. More than 100 people were injured nationwide.
Residential Areas Heavily Damaged
In Kyiv, multiple residential and commercial buildings were hit, triggering fires and destroying parked vehicles. Emergency officials reported widespread destruction across several districts.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko described the attack as a “massive enemy strike,” warning that people may still be trapped beneath the rubble of a partially collapsed multi-story apartment building in the Podilskyi district. The structure was reportedly struck in a so-called “double tap” attack, which complicates rescue efforts.
State emergency services released images showing firefighters battling intense fires in heavily damaged homes, while other buildings were left with blown-out windows and debris-filled rooms.
Widespread Strikes Across Ukraine
Beyond the capital, the cities of Dnipro, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Poltava were also targeted.
In Dnipro, a residential building was effectively destroyed, according to officials, with rescue operations ongoing as six people remain missing. Among the dead was Maj. Anton Yarmolenko, deputy chief of a fire and rescue unit, who was killed while responding to an emergency call.
In Kharkiv, at least 14 people were wounded, including a child, while 37 others were injured in Dnipro alone, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service.
Scale of the Attack
Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 656 drones and 73 missiles overnight. While most drones and over half of the missiles were intercepted, eight Zircon hypersonic missiles were reportedly fired and not shot down.
Air defense systems were active across much of the country, but CNN reporters in Kyiv noted fewer intercept responses during some ballistic missile strikes, with explosions heard in the city center and heavy smoke lingering in the air.
Political Reactions and Claims
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, calling it a warning that Russia would continue strikes unless Ukraine receives stronger defensive support.
He urged the United States to provide additional missile systems for Patriot air defenses, stressing the need for urgent reinforcement.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense, meanwhile, said the strikes targeted Ukrainian military, defense, fuel, and transport infrastructure in retaliation for what it described as “terrorist acts.” Russian state media also claimed that 148 Ukrainian drones were intercepted and reported damage to an oil refinery in Krasnodar following a drone attack.
Rising Tensions
The latest escalation comes amid increasing cross-border strikes between the two countries. Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian oil infrastructure in recent months, while Russia has warned of further “systematic strikes” on Kyiv and urged foreign diplomats to leave the capital.
