Russia unleashes ballistic, cruise, hypersonic missiles and drones on Ukraine; Kyiv main target
Russia launched a large overnight air assault on Ukraine, firing ballistic, cruise and hypersonic missiles and 168 drones, killing at least 12 people and injuring more than 40 in Kyiv and the surrounding region, Ukraine’s air force said on Thursday.The barrage damaged residential and public buildings, sparked fires and disrupted power supplies in parts of the capital, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said, as Moscow intensified its aerial attacks on Ukraine.In Kyiv’s Solomianskyi district, a fire tore through a nine-storey residential building, destroying its upper floors and killing seven people, Klitschko said. He called for Friday to be observed as a day of mourning.“Two other districts also suffered damage,” Klitschko said on Telegram, with non-residential facilities, warehouses, a school and a children’s hospital among those hit.Beyond the capital, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russian forces targeted gas infrastructure in northern Chernihiv and a border crossing with Moldova in the southern Odesa region.Quoting a witness, news agency Reuters reported hearing more than a dozen explosions in the Ukrainian capital. Ukraine’s emergency service released footage showing servicemen fighting fires and helping people escape damaged buildings.Power company DTEK said electricity had been restored to more than half of the roughly 90,000 homes that lost power in Kyiv following the attack.Zelenskiy described the assault as a major operation involving different types of weapons.“It was a massive attack – the Russians had been preparing for a long time, combining different types of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones, aiming to cause as much damage as possible to civilian infrastructure,” he said on X.A children’s hospital was struck in the Solomianskyi district to the west of the heart of the capital, with windows blown out and cars burned, according to the Guardian.Russia’s defence ministry said its forces struck facilities producing drone components, a military depot and a logistics hub in Kyiv and the surrounding region.The attack also had regional repercussions. Romania’s defence ministry said a drone crashed into its territory, while Moldova’s military said another drone crossed its airspace.Russia has intensified air attacks in recent months as Ukraine faces shortages of interceptors. Ukraine, meanwhile, has increased strikes on Russian oil facilities and logistics infrastructure.Diplomatic efforts have so far failed to secure a lasting ceasefire. Zelenskiy said Ukraine had submitted proposals to US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for a plan to end the war, while Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow remained ready for talks at short notice.
