Russian attack on Kyiv kills at least 25 in deadliest strike on capital this year

KYIV: Russia launched a large overnight barrage of drones and missiles on Ukraine’s capital early on Thursday, killing at least 25 people, injuring at least 85 and damaging about 130 buildings in what officials described as the deadliest attack on Kyiv this year.

Explosions were heard across central Kyiv through the night as residents rushed to bomb shelters and underground metro stations, while heavy smoke rose over the city. Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, said on Telegram that the death toll had reached 25 and could rise further as rescue workers continued searching through debris for people trapped under collapsed structures.

Tkachenko said five bodies were recovered at one site in an eastern suburb on the left bank of the Dnipro River, while eight residents there remained unaccounted for. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko called the assault the capital’s enemy’s most massive attack and said around 52,000 people, including 4,500 children, took shelter in metro stations. He also announced a day of mourning in the city for Friday.

Damage across the capital

According to Ukraine’s air force, Russia fired 496 drones and 74 missiles, including ballistic missiles that are difficult to intercept. Ukrainian air defences downed 48 missiles and 476 drones.

The strikes caused extensive damage across the city, including to apartment blocks, the National Institute of Biochemistry and a Red Cross warehouse, where humanitarian supplies valued at around $2 million were lost.

Standing outside the remains of her home in the eastern Darnytskyi district, resident Sabina Mambetova described the destruction. “Half the building has been destroyed. The roof is gone. I’ve been left without an apartment, alone with my child. I don’t know what to do now,” she said.

Zelensky blames delayed support

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who cut short a visit to Dublin after intelligence reports warned of an impending strike, visited the site of a partially destroyed apartment building and said Ukraine would respond.

Zelensky also said delays by allies in supplying promised air defence systems had contributed to the scale of the losses. He urged the United States to issue licences for domestic production of Patriot air defence missiles in Ukraine. “If our partners had delivered on their promises in a timely manner, I think we could have saved more homes and lives today. All we ask of our partners is simply to do what we’ve agreed on. We’re not even asking for more.” he said.

Russia and EU respond

In Moscow, the Kremlin said pressure on Kyiv would be intensified further after the attack. Russia’s Defence Ministry said the assault used long-range precision weapons against military and energy facilities and described it as retaliation for increased Ukrainian attacks on targets linked to Russia’s domestic fuel supply, including an overnight strike on an oil refinery in the Nizhny Novgorod region.

The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, proposed fresh sanctions on Moscow after saying that a building housing EU diplomats was also damaged in the strikes.