At least 13 people were killed and dozens more injured after Russia launched one of its largest missile and drone attacks against the Ukrainian capital overnight, Ukrainian officials said on Thursday.

The large-scale assault came just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that intelligence reports indicated Russia was preparing another major strike against Ukraine.

According to Ukraine's State Emergency Service, search-and-rescue operations were continuing at multiple locations across Kyiv, including a partially collapsed residential building where rescuers were searching for survivors trapped beneath the rubble.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko described the assault as the most extensive attack on the capital since the beginning of the war, saying at least 86 people were injured, including 70 who required hospitalization.

"It was a terrible night for Kyiv," Klitschko said, adding that damage had been recorded in every district of the city. Authorities declared July 3 a Day of Mourning in memory of those killed in the attack.

Ukraine's Air Force reported that Russia launched a total of 74 missiles and 496 long-range drones during the overnight assault, with Kyiv serving as the primary target.

Air defense systems intercepted or suppressed 48 missiles and 476 drones. However, officials said 25 ballistic missiles and 12 drones struck 33 separate locations, causing widespread destruction across the capital.

The barrage damaged residential neighborhoods, civilian infrastructure, and commercial properties, while fires erupted in multiple districts. Authorities reported damage at more than 30 sites throughout the city by early morning.

"The enemy is once again targeting residential areas and killing civilians," said Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration. "We have very serious destruction and a significant number of victims, including children."

Emergency services reported extensive damage across several districts of Kyiv.

In the Shevchenkivskyi district, fires broke out at a hotel and atop a seven-story residential building, while several other multistory structures were engulfed in flames.

In the Darnytskyi district, residential homes and apartment buildings suffered partial destruction. A fire also broke out in a 16-story apartment building in the Holosiivskyi district.

Authorities reported damage to a nine-story residential building in the Pecherskyi district, where a large fire spread between the first and second floors.

Elsewhere in the city, warehouses, residential properties, and administrative facilities were damaged by explosions and falling debris. Officials also reported the collapse of a nine-story residential building in the Desnianskyi district, prompting a major rescue operation.

Six emergency service workers were injured when an ambulance station was struck during the attack.

As air raid sirens sounded throughout the night, thousands of residents sought refuge in Kyiv's underground metro stations and bomb shelters.

Witnesses described crowded shelters filled with families, children, and pets as explosions echoed across the city.

The assault intensified during the early hours of the morning when ballistic missiles, including reported hypersonic Zircon missiles, were launched toward the capital.

Open-source monitoring groups reported that Russia had deployed strategic bombers as part of the operation, while Ukraine's Air Force repeatedly warned of incoming missile threats targeting Kyiv and other cities.

The attack followed a warning issued earlier in the day by President Zelensky during a joint press conference with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin.

"Once or twice a week, there are large-scale air strikes. Today, there is worrying information about preparations for another such mass Russian attack," Zelensky said.

The warning came amid continued Russian attacks across Ukraine, including a strike on Kharkiv that killed a 15-year-old boy and injured dozens of civilians.

The latest assault comes as tensions continue to escalate following Ukraine's recent long-range drone operations targeting strategic facilities inside Russia, including infrastructure linked to the country's fuel supply network.

Ukrainian officials have accused Moscow of intensifying missile and drone attacks against civilian centers in an effort to compensate for setbacks on the battlefield.

In recent months, Russian strikes have repeatedly targeted residential neighborhoods, critical infrastructure, and cultural landmarks across Ukraine. Previous attacks damaged several historic and cultural sites in Kyiv, including museums, theaters, government buildings, and religious institutions.

As rescue efforts continue and authorities assess the full extent of the destruction, Ukrainian officials have renewed calls for additional air defense systems and international support to protect civilians from increasingly frequent large-scale Russian attacks.

The overnight barrage represents one of the most significant attacks on Kyiv in recent months and highlights the continuing intensity of the war despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to reduce hostilities. (ILKHA)