Kyiv was rocked by a devastating missile and drone attack overnight, resulting in the deaths of at least nine people and leaving more than 60 others injured, including children. The assault targeted the Ukrainian capital, causing extensive damage and raising fears that some individuals may be trapped under the debris of a collapsed residential building.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that falling debris from drones led to multiple fires throughout the city. Rescuers are currently searching through the rubble, and there are indications that some survivors may be calling for help from beneath the wreckage. Among the injured are six children and a pregnant woman, highlighting the tragic impact of the attack on families.
The attack also affected Kharkiv, a city located about 40 kilometers from the Russian border, where at least two people sustained injuries. Mayor Ihor Terekhov confirmed that private homes were damaged in the strikes there as well.
This incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region. Just hours before the attack, U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for his stance on peace negotiations, particularly regarding the issue of Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. Ukraine has firmly stated that it will not recognize Russian control over the peninsula.
The ongoing conflict has seen Russia maintain control over approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory since it launched a full-scale invasion in 2022. In response to the recent attacks, Ukraine’s air force warned that many regions across the country remain at risk of further air strikes.
Emergency services are working diligently to locate survivors, with reports of phone calls being heard from the wreckage. The worst damage was reported in the Svyatoshynskyi district of Kyiv, where the residential building was destroyed.
The Russian military has not commented on these attacks, but the Russian defense ministry stated that it had intercepted or destroyed 87 Ukrainian drones in various regions overnight.
As the situation unfolds, the humanitarian toll of this latest assault continues to rise, underscoring the ongoing crisis and the urgent need for peace in the region.