Russian forces launched a massive combined assault on Kyiv early Friday, killing four people and injuring 27 others. The attacks ignited fires and damaged residential buildings across multiple districts, Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed.
Klitschko said rescue teams continued to recover bodies from the rubble, while emergency crews worked through the night to assist the wounded. Officials reported that nine victims, including a pregnant woman, were hospitalized. Two children, aged seven and ten, were among those killed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the bombardment, calling it “a deliberate strike designed to inflict maximum harm on civilians and infrastructure.” He stated that Russian forces launched 430 drones and 18 missiles, including ballistic and aeroballistic weapons.
Explosions Ignite Fires and Cause Widespread Damage
Kyiv’s air defenses intercepted several projectiles, but falling debris caused severe damage across the city. At least 11 multi-story apartment blocks sustained heavy destruction. Fires erupted near a medical center in the Shevchenkivskyi district and inside a nonresidential building in Holosiivskyi.
Officials urged residents to remain in shelters until air raid alerts ended. City authorities warned of potential water and power disruptions following the strikes.
In the surrounding Kyiv region, Russian missiles damaged energy facilities and private homes, injuring six more people. Regional chief Mykola Kalashnyk said a 55-year-old man from Bila Tserkva suffered severe burns and required hospital treatment.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported additional Russian attacks in other parts of the country. Explosions shook several cities as air defense units responded to incoming missiles.
Moscow Expands Offensive as Ukraine Regroups
The assault on Kyiv coincided with Russia’s broader push in southern Ukraine. Ukrainian troops withdrew from several villages in Zaporizhzhia after fierce fighting. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed control of nine settlements in Donetsk, eight in Zaporizhzhia, seven in Dnipropetrovsk, and five in Kharkiv within the last month.
Despite those advances, analysts said Moscow’s campaign remains slow and costly. The Institute for the Study of War reported that Russia’s siege of Pokrovsk has stalled as commanders stretch their resources. Elite drone units and special forces continue to face heavy resistance from Ukrainian troops.
Ukraine’s leadership vowed to strengthen defenses and accused Russia of waging a campaign of terror against civilians. “Every strike only unites us more,” Zelenskyy declared. “We will endure, rebuild, and respond.”
