A devastating drone assault by Russia on Kyiv has left at least 10 people dead and wounded over 100, with officials reporting extensive damage to a nine-storey apartment block and other sites in the city. The incident is part of a broader intensification of attacks by Russian forces targeting urban areas.
Catastrophic Drone Strike in Kyiv Claims Lives and Destroys Homes
Catastrophic Drone Strike in Kyiv Claims Lives and Destroys Homes
Recent drone and missile attacks on Kyiv have resulted in significant casualties and widespread destruction, marking a severe escalation in the ongoing conflict.
Russia has unleashed one of its most lethal attacks on Kyiv in recent months, resulting in at least 10 deaths and over 100 injuries, according to Ukrainian officials. The assault, which involved a massive barrage of drones and missiles, included a drone striking a residential apartment block, leading to the destruction of numerous flats and igniting fears of additional casualties trapped under the debris. Initially reported fatalities were as high as 15, later adjusted downwards, with two more deaths in Odesa, Ukraine's southern port city.
This recent attack is one of the most significant since Russia's full-scale invasion, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky labeling it "one of the most terrifying strikes" thus far. Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed that their military operation aimed to strike Ukraine's military-industrial complexes, asserting all targets had been effectively neutralized during the extended nine-hour assault which commenced just past midnight.
Kyiv's Mayor, Vitali Klitschko, reported over 40 apartments destroyed in the drone strike on the nine-storey building located in the mostly residential Solomyanskyi district. Eyewitnesses and officials described waking to scenes of chaos, with local MP Lesia Vasylenko conveying horror at the human toll: “Waking up in utter nightmare: people trapped under rubble and full buildings collapsed.”
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko noted various buildings, including residential and educational facilities, were hit in the offensive. Rescue operations were ongoing as emergency responders worked diligently to locate potential survivors beneath the wreckage. Complications in casualty figures arose due to identification errors, resulting from the traumatic nature of the incident.
As the explosions rocked the capital, Ukraine’s air defense systems engaged actively against incoming threats, underscoring the intensity of the aerial combat. Recent patterns indicate a strategy by Russia relying heavily on large waves of drones combined with decoys, a method aimed at overwhelming Ukrainian defenses.
In retaliation, Ukrainian forces reportedly carried out a missile strike on a district in occupied Donetsk, culminating in more suffering as at least 10 individuals were reported injured. On the Russian front, news sources claim a total of 147 Ukrainian drones were intercepted over various regions within Russia.
President Zelensky condemned the attacks as "pure terrorism," directing blame toward Russian President Vladimir Putin for perpetuating this violence. He expressed disappointment about the lack of sufficient support from global leaders, which further complicates Ukraine's strategic posture in the war. Concurrently, reports indicated intentions among the UK and allied nations to introduce additional sanctions against Russia, aiming to sustain pressure on Moscow amid this escalating conflict.
