Photo Credit: Getty Images
Russian forces unleashed a massive overnight assault on Ukraine's capital, firing drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles that struck across multiple districts of Kyiv, Ukrainian officials reported Thursday.
At least eight people, including two children, were confirmed dead, while more than 30 others were injured. Emergency services warned the toll could rise as rescue operations continued at several heavily damaged residential sites.
"This was one of the largest combined attacks on the capital in weeks," said Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's city administration. "More than 20 locations across seven districts were hit, with nearly 100 buildings damaged, from apartment blocks to a central shopping mall."
Residents in Darnytskyi district awoke to explosions as a five-story residential building collapsed after a direct strike. Firefighters battled flames through the night as neighbors searched for survivors. By morning, black body bags lined the street while families waited anxiously for news of loved ones.
President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the strikes in a post on X, saying Russia had chosen "ballistics instead of the negotiating table." He urged world leaders to move beyond "silence" and respond firmly.
The attack marked one of the rare times that central Kyiv was struck since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022. Windows shattered in downtown high-rises, and smoke rose over the skyline as emergency crews worked at more than 20 sites across the city.
Ukraine's national railway operator reported that infrastructure in Kyiv and Vinnytsia regions was also damaged, forcing rerouted services and delays.
The assault comes just weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump met with Vladimir Putin in Alaska in an attempt to advance peace talks. But Ukrainian officials accuse Moscow of stalling while intensifying military pressure. "All opportunities for diplomacy have been squandered," Zelensky said Thursday.
As Kyiv cleared debris and mourned its dead, Western governments faced renewed calls to strengthen sanctions against Russia and provide further military aid. For many in the capital, the night's destruction served as a grim reminder of a war that shows no sign of easing.
