Russian forces launched a massive assault on Kyiv early Friday, killing four and injuring at least 27. Explosions ignited fires and damaged residential buildings throughout the capital, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
Klitschko confirmed that rescuers continued searching for two missing bodies trapped under rubble. Emergency crews rushed to multiple impact sites as smoke filled several districts. Ukrainian officials reported widespread destruction and warned of possible power and water outages.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack on X, calling it a “deliberate strike against civilians.” He said Russia fired 430 drones and 18 missiles, including ballistic and aeroballistic weapons.
Homes and Hospitals Among Targets
Authorities confirmed that at least 11 apartment blocks were damaged across the city. Falling debris sparked fires near a medical center and inside a nonresidential building in the Shevchenkivskyi and Holosiivskyi districts.
Officials said nine people, including a pregnant woman, required hospital treatment after the blasts. Two children, aged seven and ten, were among the dead. City leaders urged residents to stay in shelters until air raid warnings ended.
Regional head Mykola Kalashnyk reported that Russian strikes also hit surrounding areas, destroying private homes and critical infrastructure. A 55-year-old man in Bila Tserkva suffered severe burns and remained hospitalized.
Ukraine’s Air Force confirmed that Russian missiles and drones struck multiple regions simultaneously, signaling a coordinated assault across the country.
Russia Pushes Forward Despite Heavy Losses
The attacks came as Russian troops advanced in southern Ukraine. Ukrainian forces pulled back from several Zaporizhzhia villages after fierce fighting. Over the last month, Russia claimed control of nine settlements in Donetsk, eight in Zaporizhzhia, seven in Dnipropetrovsk, and five in Kharkiv.
Despite those gains, analysts say Moscow’s campaign has drained its forces. The Institute for the Study of War reported that Russia’s siege of Pokrovsk has progressed slowly as its commanders spread resources too thin.
Ukraine’s defenders continue to resist, holding Russia to minimal territorial advances even under relentless attacks. President Zelenskyy vowed that the latest assault would not break the nation’s resolve to defend every part of its land.
