Russian forces unleashed a large-scale assault on Kyiv early Friday, killing four people and wounding 27. The explosions ignited fires and damaged several residential buildings across the capital. Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that rescue teams were still searching through rubble and could not yet recover two bodies.
Emergency crews rushed to multiple impact sites as fires spread through city districts. Nine people, including a pregnant woman, required hospitalization after the blasts. Among the victims were two children, aged seven and ten.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strike, calling it a “calculated and deliberate attack” on civilians. He reported that Russian forces launched 430 drones and 18 missiles, including ballistic and aeroballistic types, during the assault.
Fires Erupt Across Kyiv as Residents Shelter Underground
The bombardment damaged at least 11 multi-storey apartment blocks across several districts, according to Klitschko. In the Shevchenkivskyi and Holosiivskyi areas, falling debris sparked fires near a medical center and inside a nonresidential building.
Authorities ordered residents to remain in shelters until the air raid sirens stopped. City officials also warned of possible power and water disruptions following the overnight strikes.
In nearby regions, Russian attacks destroyed private homes and damaged key infrastructure. Regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk said six people were hurt, including a 55-year-old man in Bila Tserkva who suffered severe burns and was hospitalized. Ukraine’s Air Force reported additional strikes across other regions of the country.
Russian Gains Continue Despite Heavy Losses
The wave of attacks followed recent Russian advances in southern Ukraine. Ukrainian troops retreated from several villages in the Zaporizhzhia region amid intense fighting. Over the past month, Russia claimed to have seized nine settlements in Donetsk, eight in Zaporizhzhia, seven in Dnipropetrovsk, and five in Kharkiv.
Despite those gains, Russia’s campaign has come at a steep cost. Ukrainian forces continue to limit its progress to small territorial advances. The Institute for the Study of War reported that Russia’s siege of Pokrovsk remains slow because its commanders are dispersing troops and drone units too widely.
Zelenskyy vowed that Ukraine would resist continued assaults and called on international allies to strengthen air defense support, saying Russia’s ongoing strategy “thrives on terror, not victory.”
