Russian forces launched a massive coordinated strike on Kyiv early Friday, killing four and wounding 27. Explosions tore through several districts, setting buildings ablaze and scattering debris across residential areas. Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed the casualties and said rescuers struggled to reach two bodies trapped under rubble.
Emergency teams worked through the night as fires raged in multiple neighborhoods. Hospitals admitted nine victims, including a pregnant woman. Among the dead were two children, aged seven and ten. Officials said the attacks damaged at least 11 high-rise buildings across the city.
Zelenskyy Condemns “Calculated Terror” Against Civilians
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the assault as a “deliberate and calculated act of terror” against civilians. He said Russian forces fired 430 drones and 18 missiles, including ballistic and aeroballistic weapons, to inflict maximum damage on Kyiv’s population and infrastructure.
Falling debris sparked fires in the Shevchenkivskyi and Holosiivskyi districts, including one near a medical facility. Flames also spread through a nonresidential building nearby. Authorities urged residents to stay in shelters until air raid alerts ended. Klitschko warned of possible water and power outages as the city’s utilities sustained heavy damage.
In Kyiv’s surrounding region, Russian missiles struck critical infrastructure and homes. Regional head Mykola Kalashnyk reported six additional injuries, including a 55-year-old man hospitalized with severe burns in Bila Tserkva.
Moscow Pushes Forward Despite Heavy Losses
Russian strikes extended far beyond Kyiv, with attacks reported across multiple Ukrainian regions. Ukraine’s Air Force confirmed a wave of assaults targeting infrastructure and population centers. The attacks coincided with new Russian advances in southern Ukraine, where Ukrainian troops recently withdrew from several villages in Zaporizhzhia after intense fighting.
Over the past month, Russia has claimed control of nine settlements in Donetsk, eight in Zaporizhzhia, seven in Dnipropetrovsk, and five in Kharkiv. Despite these gains, analysts say Russia’s progress remains slow and costly.
The Institute for the Study of War reported that Moscow’s siege of Pokrovsk has stalled, even with the deployment of elite drone operators and special forces. The think tank said Russia’s commanders continue to overextend resources, limiting the effectiveness of their offensive.
Ukraine’s leadership vowed to strengthen its defenses and hold firm despite mounting pressure. As Kyiv burned once again, its residents endured another night of terror—one that underscored the war’s relentless human toll.
