Russia launched one of its most deadly attacks on Ukraine’s capital in recent months, killing at least 23 people and injuring over 100 in a sustained overnight assault on Kyiv.
The attack, which lasted more than nine hours, flattened part of a nine-storey apartment block and left scores of residents trapped under rubble.
Ukrainian officials said the assault involved 440 Iranian-made Shahed drones and 32 missiles, targeting various residential and infrastructure sites across the capital. Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, confirmed that more than 40 apartments were destroyed in one district alone. He warned that the death toll could rise as emergency crews continued to search through debris.
Among the dead was a 62-year-old U.S. citizen, authorities confirmed. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said the strikes hit at least 27 locations in Kyiv, including residential buildings, educational institutions, and critical infrastructure. Explosions rocked the city throughout the early morning hours, forcing residents to take cover in underground shelters from before midnight until sunrise.
One of the hardest-hit areas was the Solomyanskyi district, where a ballistic missile struck a high-rise apartment block. Video footage showed the building’s entrance completely collapsed. Klitschko accused Russia of using cluster munitions packed with ball bearings, saying they were intended to kill as many people as possible.
Loud blasts echoed through the capital as Ukrainian air defense units fired machine guns at incoming drones. Sirens and secondary alerts disrupted rescue efforts several times throughout the morning, as emergency workers tried to reach survivors still buried under rubble.
President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the strike, calling it “one of the most terrifying attacks” on Kyiv since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Speaking from the G7 summit in Canada, he labeled the assault “pure terrorism” and urged international leaders to intensify pressure on the Kremlin.
Zelensky blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for continuing the war “simply because he can,” and said the world’s failure to take stronger action only emboldens such aggression. “It is the terrorists who should feel the pain,” he said, “not peaceful, normal people.”
Elsewhere in Ukraine, the southern port city of Odesa also came under attack. Two people were confirmed dead and at least 10 others injured in drone strikes there, adding to the day’s overall casualty count. Ukrainian officials said rescue efforts in both cities were continuing late into the day.
In eastern Ukraine, Russian-installed officials accused Kyiv of launching a missile strike on occupied Donetsk, reportedly injuring at least 10 people. Meanwhile, Russian state media reported that air defenses had shot down 147 Ukrainian drones overnight across nine Russian regions, including near the Moscow and Belgorod areas.
Despite the ongoing destruction, Kyiv has maintained its own counteroffensives in recent weeks. However, diplomatic efforts remain stalled, with no breakthroughs in ceasefire negotiations. Zelensky’s attempt to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the G7 was unsuccessful, as Trump left the summit early due to the crisis in the Middle East.
As international leaders prepare to impose additional sanctions on Moscow, Ukraine continues to appeal for stronger military and political support. Western nations, including the UK, are expected to announce new measures against Russia as the war enters its third summer with no clear end in sight.
