A wave of Russian missiles and drones struck Ukraine’s capital overnight, killing eight people and injuring 135 others, in one of the deadliest attacks on Kyiv in months. Among those killed during the strike were a six-year-old boy and his mother. Three of the victims died when a residential building collapsed in the Sviatoshynskyi district. Emergency workers continued to search the rubble on Thursday as rescue operations extended into the afternoon. “A whole section of the apartment block was completely destroyed,” Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed in a statement.
According to Ukrainian officials, the strikes targeted more than 25 sites across the capital. The city’s air defenses intercepted most of the incoming threats, but some cruise missiles made direct hits, including in the densely populated Solomyanskyi and Shevchenkivskyi districts.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said 12 children were among the wounded. “This is the highest number of child casualties in a single night since the full-scale invasion began,” he said.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 309 drones and eight cruise missiles during the assault. Although most were intercepted, damage was extensive. The blast shockwaves shattered windows at a children’s hospital and damaged a kindergarten, school, and higher education facility.
President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks, linking them to stalled diplomatic efforts. “Once again, the world witnesses Russia’s response to peace initiatives from the U.S. and Europe by killing civilians,” President Zelensky wrote on social media. “There is no peace without strength.”
The assault came just days after former U.S. President Donald Trump set a new deadline for Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire or face further economic sanctions. Initially set at 50 days, US President Trump shortened the ultimatum this week to “ten or 12 days.”
Speaking in London on Monday, Trump expressed frustration over the continued bombardment. “We were headed toward a ceasefire… and then the missiles started flying again,” he said. Trump did not confirm whether Putin had directly misled him but noted a disconnect between their conversations and Russia’s actions.
Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha criticized Moscow’s response to the diplomatic overture. “This is a horrible morning for Kyiv. There are still people under the rubble,” Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said. “Trump has been patient. Now it’s time for maximum pressure.”
Meanwhile, heavy fighting continued in eastern Ukraine. Russian forces claimed they had captured the strategic town of Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region. Ukraine denied the claim, stating that battles were ongoing and the town had not fully fallen.
Open-source monitoring group DeepState reported that Russian troops had taken control of the eastern and northern sections of Chasiv Yar but acknowledged that combat persisted in other parts of the town.
Military analysts warn that Chasiv Yar’s elevated position offers Russia a commanding view of nearby urban centers, including Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. Control of the town would also open a path toward Pokrovsk, 60 kilometers southwest, which Ukrainian officials now describe as one of the most threatened areas on the front.
Despite Russian numerical advantages, Ukraine continues to resist across multiple fronts. However, continued shortages in manpower and equipment remain a growing concern in the east.
Thursday’s attack marks one of the largest drone and missile assaults on Kyiv this year, underscoring Russia’s persistent threat to civilian areas even as global efforts to push for a ceasefire gain momentum.
By mid-afternoon, 30 people remained hospitalized in the capital. Officials urged residents to remain vigilant, with air raid alerts continuing across parts of Ukraine.
The overnight devastation, especially the deaths of children, has deepened calls for international action as the war enters its third year with no sign of slowing.
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