Russia carried out a large-scale aerial strike on Ukrainian cities overnight, targeting Kyiv with missiles and drones and hitting regions far from the front lines, Ukrainian authorities reported.

At least 13 people were killed in the attack on Kyiv, including three minors aged 2, 14, and 17, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed. Twelve fatalities occurred in the Darnytskyi district, where a residential building was struck, and one person died in the Shevchenkivskyi district. Forty-eight people were injured, including several children, with at least 30 hospitalized.

Air raid sirens sounded across Ukraine as Russia launched hypersonic missiles and hundreds of drones, including Shahed attack drones, decoys, and Kinzhal-equipped MiG-31 jets. Ukraine’s Air Force reported a total of 598 drones and 31 missiles were launched, among them two Kinzhal ballistic missiles, nine Iskander-M or North Korean KN-23 ballistic missiles, and 20 Kh-101 cruise missiles. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 563 drones and 26 missiles.

Kyiv was hit from multiple directions, with explosions damaging homes, schools, offices, and a five-story apartment building that collapsed entirely in the Darnytskyi district. Fires also broke out in Dniprovskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, and Solomyanskyi districts, and numerous other residential and non-residential buildings were damaged across the city. Rescue operations, involving around 500 rescuers and 1,000 emergency workers, were immediately launched to retrieve victims from rubble.

The assault also damaged key infrastructure, including the Intercity+ high-speed train depot in Koziatyn, Vinnytsia Oblast, and the offices of Ukrainian media outlet Ukrainska Pravda, as well as a building belonging to the EU mission to Ukraine. EU representatives condemned the attacks, with envoy Katarina Mathernova calling it “Moscow’s true answer to peace efforts.”

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko described the strikes as part of a broader campaign of terror against civilians. “In total, the number of damaged sites in Kyiv will again reach hundreds, with thousands of broken windows,” said Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration.

Russia’s bombardment affected regions across Ukraine, including Zhytomyr, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Ternopil, Lviv, and Ivano-Frankivsk oblasts, prompting widespread air raid alerts. The attacks mark an escalation in Moscow’s aerial campaign since early 2025, following a deadly strike on Kyiv in July that killed 31 civilians.

President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks, calling them a “clear response to everyone calling for a ceasefire and diplomacy.” He urged the international community, including China and Hungary, to respond to Russia’s aggression and pressure Moscow to halt its attacks.

The White House continues to advocate for a negotiated peace deal, but Russia has rejected ceasefire calls and insists on maintaining influence over Ukraine’s future security.

Ukraine’s emergency services remain engaged in search and rescue efforts as authorities assess the full extent of casualties and destruction. (ILKHA)