KYIV, Ukraine — At least four people were killed and 53 injured after Russia unleashed nearly 500 drones and ballistic missiles across Ukraine in a second consecutive night of intense aerial assaults, officials reported Friday.
The attacks targeted civilian and industrial infrastructure in multiple regions, with Kyiv among the hardest hit. Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed four fatalities and 20 injuries in the capital, where residential buildings, subway tracks, and an educational institution were damaged. Search and rescue operations continued into Friday morning.
Emergency Workers Among the Dead
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko stated that three of the deceased were emergency service personnel killed while responding to the attacks. Nine other rescue workers were injured, some seriously.
Kyiv’s military administration reported widespread destruction from both direct strikes and falling debris, including fires at a residential high-rise and a metal warehouse in the Solomianskyi district.
Nationwide Strikes
President Volodymyr Zelensky said nearly all of Ukraine was under fire, with the Khmelnytskyi, Lviv, Volyn, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Poltava, and Sumy regions sustaining damage. “Some of the missiles and drones were shot down. I thank our warriors for their defense. But unfortunately, not all were intercepted,” he posted on X.
In Ternopil province, 10 people were wounded, including five emergency responders battling a large blaze. The northwestern city of Lutsk saw 15 injured after a nine-story apartment building was struck, while Kherson reported 10 casualties from artillery fire in Ukrainian-held areas. Additional injuries were reported in Chernihiv, Poltava, Kharkiv, and Sumy.
Ukraine Strikes Back
Ukraine retaliated with drone attacks on Russian military sites, claiming hits on Engels and Diaghilev airfields—key bases for Russian bombers. The General Staff said the strikes targeted “enemy airfields and other important military facilities.”
Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have intercepted 174 drones and three missiles but did not address damage to military installations. State media confirmed a drone-induced fire at an industrial site in Engels and reported six injuries in Michurinsk and Tula from falling debris.
The conflict shows no signs of abating as both sides escalate strikes, deepening the humanitarian toll.
