MWE Correspondent
A large-scale Russian missile and drone attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv has killed at least 30 people, marking one of the deadliest assaults on the city since the war began in 2022.
Ukrainian officials said the overnight strike involved long-range missiles, ballistic systems and jet-powered drones, which are considered more difficult to intercept due to their speed and flight patterns.
According to the Ukraine Air Force, Russia launched 77 missiles in total, including 28 ballistic missiles—an unusually high number in a single coordinated attack. Authorities also said more than 90 percent of cruise missiles and most Shahed-type drones were intercepted.
Among the weapons used was a Zircon hypersonic missile, which Ukrainian officials say can only be countered effectively by advanced air defence systems such as the Patriot missile system.
The strikes hit at least 25 locations across Kyiv, many of them residential areas. One apartment building containing 64 housing units was severely damaged, leaving multiple families displaced and rescue teams searching through rubble for survivors.
Emergency services continued operations throughout the day, with reports of several people still missing as debris clearance and search efforts intensified.
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Russia’s Ministry of Defence said the operation targeted military infrastructure and energy facilities. However, Ukrainian authorities said more than 130 civilian buildings were damaged, accusing Moscow of deliberately striking residential areas.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, accusing Russia of continuing to target civilian infrastructure despite ongoing international calls for restraint.
Rescue operations remain underway, with firefighters, paramedics and emergency crews working through destroyed buildings as Kyiv remains on high alert following one of the most intense bombardments in recent months.
The latest escalation underscores the continuing intensity of the conflict and the vulnerability of urban centres despite Ukraine’s strengthened air defence capabilities.
