Kyiv Faces Intensified Russian Attacks, Casualties Reported

Kyiv, Ukraine – The Ukrainian capital endured a massive and relentless Russian aerial assault overnight, involving over 550 drones and missiles, resulting in significant casualties and widespread damage across the city. At least 26 people were injured, including a 10-year-old girl, with 14 hospitalized, as residential buildings, infrastructure, and public facilities were struck in eight districts.

The attacks included ballistic, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), with no prior air raid alerts in some cases, catching residents off guard. A multi-story residential building in the Shevchenkivskyi district was partially destroyed, metro station entrances were damaged, and fires broke out, worsening air quality. Debris from the strikes fell across more than 30 locations around Kyiv, causing damage to homes, cars, a gas station, a college, a school, railroad tracks, and a heating station.

Rescue and emergency services are actively working amid the rubble, with authorities warning that the death toll may rise as search and recovery efforts continue. The Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office has launched a pre-trial investigation into the attacks as potential war crimes.

Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko described the attacks as more intense and deadly than before, noting that residents are increasingly forced to seek shelter in crowded and inadequate metro stations during air raids. The psychological toll on the population is mounting after more than three years of war.

This latest strike is part of a broader escalation in Russian air assaults on Kyiv, following previous deadly attacks that killed dozens and injured many more in recent months. Officials condemned the strikes as a continuation of Russian aggression and called for increased international support to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses.

The Ukrainian Air Defense forces reportedly intercepted and neutralized hundreds of incoming weapons, including two Iskander-K cruise missiles, but the scale and intensity of the attacks have overwhelmed some defensive measures.

The situation remains fluid, with ongoing efforts to assess the full extent of casualties and damage. Kyiv’s residents continue to endure the hardships of war amid persistent threats from Russian forces.