Overnight, Kyiv was targeted by a massive wave of drone and missile attacks, the largest aerial assault since the beginning of Russia’s war in Ukraine. The attacks resulted in 23 injuries and damage across several districts of the city.
According to the Ukrainian air force, Russia launched 550 drones and missiles at Ukraine overnight. The majority were Shahed drones, and 11 missiles were also used in the attack.
Throughout the night in Kyiv, journalists reported hearing the constant buzzing of drones, along with explosions and intense machine gun fire as Ukrainian forces attempted to intercept the incoming aerial assault.
Kyiv was the primary target. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that at least 23 people were injured, and 14 were hospitalized.
Ukrainian air defenses reportedly shot down 270 targets, including two cruise missiles. Another 208 targets were lost from radar and presumed jammed.
Russia successfully struck nine locations with nine missiles and 63 drones. Debris from intercepted drones fell across at least 33 sites.
The attack occurred hours after President Donald Trump held a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and made his first public comments regarding his administration’s decision to pause some weapons shipments to Ukraine.
The paused shipments affect munitions, including Patriot missiles, AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missiles, and shorter-range Stinger missiles, all crucial for countering incoming missiles and drones and for downing Russian aircraft.
This attack comes less than a week after Russia’s previous largest aerial assault in the war. In that prior attack, Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia fired 537 drones and decoys, along with 60 missiles.
Emergency services reported damage in at least five of the capital’s ten districts.
In the Solomianskyi district, a five-story residential building was partially destroyed, and a fire broke out on the roof of a seven-story building. Fires also erupted at a warehouse, a garage complex, and an auto repair facility.
In the Sviatoshynskyi district, a strike hit a 14-story residential building, causing a fire. Several vehicles also caught fire nearby. Fires were also reported at non-residential facilities.
An eight-story building in the Shevchenkivskyi district was attacked, sustaining damage to the first floor.
Falling debris was reported in the Darnytskyi and Holosiivskyi areas.
Ukraine’s national railway operator, Ukrzaliznytsia, stated that drone strikes damaged rail infrastructure in Kyiv.
