A devastating Russian missile and drone attack struck Kyiv overnight, killing nine people and injuring more than 70, including six children and a pregnant woman, Ukrainian officials reported.

The assault, which began around 1:00 a.m. local time with explosions rocking the capital, continued with additional blasts at 4:00 a.m., targeting residential and commercial areas.

The Kyiv City Military Administration confirmed Russia deployed attack drones, guided missiles, and ballistic weapons in the assault. The Shevchenkivskyi, Holosiivskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, and Podilskyi neighborhoods were directly hit, with fires reported in residential buildings and debris scattered across the city. At least 42 people have been hospitalized, and rescue operations are ongoing to free victims trapped under rubble. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service noted that two children remain unaccounted for.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko described the scene as chaotic, with paramedics and civilians working tirelessly to aid the injured. “This is Russian peace in all its glory,” said Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, condemning the attack’s impact on civilian infrastructure.

The assault extended beyond Kyiv, with Russia launching missiles at Zhytomyr, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Poltava, Khmelnytskyi, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia regions in what Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko called a “massive combined strike.” Kyiv bore the brunt of the attack, which left significant damage, though the full extent is still being assessed.

In response, Poland scrambled allied fighter jets to secure its airspace, citing the risk of stray missiles crossing its border. The attack underscores Russia’s ongoing targeting of Ukrainian civilian infrastructure since its full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

Amid the violence, diplomatic efforts continue. The U.S. has been mediating talks between Ukraine and Russia to end the war. On March 11, Ukraine agreed to a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire, but Russia has so far rejected the terms.

Rescuers and volunteers remain on the ground in Kyiv, working to save lives as the city grapples with the aftermath of this deadly assault. (ILKHA)