At least nine people have been killed and more than 70 injured in Kyiv after Russia carried out one of the most devastating air attacks against Ukraine for months, with Kharkiv and other cities also targeted.
Waves of drones as well as ballistic and guided missiles struck the Ukrainian capital early on Thursday. There were explosions for much of the night, beginning at about 1am local time, and the rattle of anti-aircraft fire as Ukrainian defenses tried to shoot the missiles down.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that emergency teams are working to pull survivors from beneath the rubble after a massive Russian missile strike on the capital. Among the injured are six children and a pregnant woman. Fires broke out in residential buildings, vehicles, and surrounding infrastructure, with several districts suffering severe damage from falling debris.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service described the attack as a “massive combined strike” on Kyiv. Based on preliminary data, nine people were killed and 70 injured.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said rescue operations are concentrated in the Svyatoshinsky district, where search dogs and engineering units are deployed. “We can still hear mobile phones ringing under the debris,” he said. “The search will go on until everyone is found. We have reports of two missing children at the site.”
On Wednesday evening, drones could be seen buzzing in the sky above the north-east Kharkiv region and flying over a forest. Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second city, was hit by seven missiles and 12 kamikaze drones in strikes throughout the night as black smoke plumed overhead.
Kharkiv’s mayor, several private houses, a factory and a high-rise apartment block were hit. “One of the most recent strikes hit a densely populated residential area. Two people were injured there,” Ihor Terekhov said, urging people to be careful.
The onslaught came as Donald Trump lashed out at Volodymyr Zelenskyy for failing to support a US “peace plan”, in which Crimea and other Ukrainian territories would be handed to Russia.
On Wednesday, Trump accused Ukraine’s president of prolonging the “killing field” and making “very harmful” statements. Zelenskyy has ruled out recognizing Crimea as Russian and says a complete ceasefire is needed before any settlement can be discussed.
