Russia unleashed a massive combined assault on Kyiv early Friday, killing four and injuring 27. The attack ignited fires and tore through apartment blocks across multiple districts, Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed.
Rescue workers struggled to retrieve two bodies from the debris as emergency crews fought to control the flames. Explosions echoed throughout the capital as air defenses attempted to intercept the incoming missiles and drones.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strike, calling it “a deliberate act of terror against civilians and infrastructure.” He reported that Russian forces used 430 drones and 18 missiles, including ballistic and aeroballistic types, in the coordinated barrage.
Nine people, including a pregnant woman, were hospitalized. Two children aged seven and ten were among the victims. At least 11 apartment buildings suffered direct hits, leaving hundreds of residents without power or water.
Kyiv Under Siege as Emergency Crews Battle Damage
In the Shevchenkivskyi and Holosiivskyi districts, falling debris set fires near a medical center and inside a commercial building. City officials urged residents to stay in shelters until air raid warnings ended, warning of potential outages.
Regional leader Mykola Kalashnyk confirmed additional strikes in surrounding areas. Explosions damaged private homes and key infrastructure, injuring at least six people. A 55-year-old man in Bila Tserkva suffered severe burns and required hospitalization.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported further strikes across the country, as Russian attacks intensified in multiple regions. The scale and coordination of the bombardment marked one of the heaviest waves Kyiv has faced in weeks.
Russia Expands Offensive Amid Mounting Losses
Russian forces continue to advance in southern Ukraine, forcing Ukrainian troops to retreat from several villages in Zaporizhzhia. Over the past month, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed control of nine settlements in Donetsk, eight in Zaporizhzhia, seven in Dnipropetrovsk, and five in Kharkiv.
Despite these gains, Moscow’s offensive remains slow and costly. Analysts say Russia’s strategy of attrition has stretched its manpower and equipment thin.
The Institute for the Study of War reported that Russia’s siege of Pokrovsk has stalled, even with elite drone units and special forces on the ground. The think tank said Russian commanders have diluted their strength by spreading forces across too many fronts.
As Ukraine braces for further attacks, officials in Kyiv vow to strengthen defenses and continue rescue operations amid the relentless assault on the capital.
