In one of the most brutal assaults on Ukraine’s capital in nearly a year, Russia launched an overnight barrage of over 400 drones and missiles on Kyiv, killing at least 28 people and injuring 134, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Air Force said Russia launched 440 drones and 32 missiles in the attack, with 428 intercepted. However, some projectiles broke through, striking residential areas and civilian infrastructure. A multi-story apartment block in the Solomyanskyi district was hit directly, splitting it in half and burying residents under tons of debris. By Wednesday morning, 23 bodies had been pulled from the rubble.
“It was very scary… just survival instincts,” said Victoria, a resident of the destroyed building. After fleeing Russian-occupied Luhansk in 2014, she said she thought she had come to terms with death—but Tuesday night changed that. “For the first time, I was scared.”
Another survivor, Oleksandr Ustenko, recounted how his family narrowly escaped the burning building. “Everything started shaking… we barely made it to the street. Our apartment is almost destroyed, our car is destroyed.”
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko confirmed extensive damage to residential buildings and infrastructure. He also announced that a 62-year-old American citizen was among the dead—later confirmed by the U.S. State Department, which offered condolences and consular support to the victim’s family.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed it had targeted military-industrial sites, but Ukrainian and UN officials point to clear evidence of strikes on civilian areas. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission noted it was Russia’s fourth attack this month involving over 400 munitions in one night, underscoring a shift in Moscow’s strategy toward overwhelming and concentrated bombardments.
Rescue efforts continue as officials warn the death toll may rise.
