Overnight on Tuesday, Kyiv endured one of the deadliest Russian drone and missile attacks in recent months, resulting in the deaths of at least 14 people, including a US citizen, and injuring more than 40 others, according to Ukrainian officials. The assault lasted nearly ten hours, with air raid sirens blaring from late Monday through the early morning hours, continuing into daylight amid alarms signaling a potential ballistic threat.
The coordinated attack involved approximately 175 drones, over 14 cruise missiles, and at least two ballistic missiles targeting multiple districts across Kyiv, including Solomianskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, and others. A nine-story residential building in the Solomianskyi district was severely damaged, with a section collapsing under the impact of a ballistic missile and drone strikes. Emergency responders are still searching the rubble for survivors, with concerns that the death toll may rise.
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko described the night as “one of the most horrifying strikes on Kyiv,” while Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, reported widespread destruction of residential buildings and ongoing rescue efforts. The attack left thick smoke over the city and caused significant distress among residents, many of whom spent a sleepless night seeking shelter from the relentless bombardment.
The strike occurred as world leaders gathered for the G7 summit in Canada, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is attending to seek further international support. The intensity and scale of the assault highlight Moscow’s continued strategy to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses through mass drone deployments combined with missile barrages, aiming to inflict maximum damage on civilian infrastructure and morale.
This latest attack underscores the persistent danger faced by Kyiv’s residents and the ongoing volatility of the conflict, as Ukraine continues to resist Russian aggression despite the heavy toll on its capital and population.
