KYIV, Ukraine — A massive Russian air assault struck Kyiv overnight into Tuesday, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens more, Ukrainian officials confirmed. The strike marks one of the most extensive attacks on Ukraine’s capital since the full-scale invasion began over three years ago.
Explosions shook the city for more than nine hours as drones and missiles hit 27 districts across Kyiv. A ballistic missile slammed into a nine-story apartment building, reducing sections to rubble and trapping residents beneath the debris.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, where rescue teams worked into the morning. “People were trapped under rubble and full buildings collapsed,” said Ukrainian lawmaker Lesia Vasylenko in a post on social media. “Waking up in utter nightmare.”
Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported that Russia launched 440 drones and 32 missiles across the country during the assault. Loud blasts and the crackle of gunfire from mobile air defense units echoed across Kyiv throughout the night as authorities worked to intercept the barrage.
Despite Ukraine’s efforts to protect its skies, the strike left widespread destruction and delayed rescue operations. Air raid sirens continued to sound into the morning, forcing emergency workers to temporarily halt efforts while more incoming threats were assessed.
In a statement, President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attack “pure terrorism.” He blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for prolonging the war, saying, “He does this simply because he can. It is the terrorists who should feel the pain, not normal, peaceful people.”
In addition to Kyiv, the southern city of Odesa was also hit. One person died and at least 10 others were injured in drone strikes there, according to Klymenko.
Russia’s defense ministry claimed its forces had intercepted 147 Ukrainian drones overnight. Ukrainian forces have also increased their own strikes in recent weeks, but talks between both sides have failed to produce a ceasefire or any significant diplomatic progress.
Zelensky had planned to speak with U.S. President Donald Trump during the G7 summit in Canada, but those talks were postponed after Trump left early due to the deepening crisis in the Middle East. The missed opportunity may delay further Western backing for Ukraine’s defense efforts.
The scale and coordination of the latest attack reflect a shift in Russian tactics, with drone swarms and missile salvos intended to saturate Ukrainian defenses. Analysts monitoring the war say this tactic poses growing challenges for Ukraine’s stretched air defense systems.
No official death toll updates have been released since morning, but officials warn the number could rise as search operations continue through the wreckage. Kyiv remains on high alert.
