Russia Launches Massive Overnight Strikes On Kyiv

Russian forces carried out a “massive” overnight assault on Kyiv on Thursday, unleashing strikes that killed at least four people and injured around 30 others, according to Ukrainian officials.

The attack occurred as Moscow and Kyiv exchanged blame over stalled diplomatic efforts toward a peace deal led by US President Donald Trump. AFP correspondents in Kyiv reported seeing powerful explosions lighting up the night sky, followed by plumes of smoke.

Ukraine’s Interior Minister, Igor Klymenko, confirmed that four people were killed and “about 30 people” wounded. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the city’s military administration, added that the dead included a 14-year-old girl, while five other children between the ages of seven and 17 sustained “injuries of varying severity.”

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko described the strikes as a “massive attack” that damaged several districts of the capital. Tkachenko further revealed that Moscow had launched ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as Iranian-made Shahed drones, from multiple directions in an attempt to “systematically” strike residential buildings.

AFP journalists witnessed red tracer bullets streaking across the night sky as Ukrainian forces attempted to intercept drones. At least one missile appeared to have been shot down. About 100 residents sought shelter in a subway station, with some lying in sleeping bags and others clutching their pets.

Klitschko also reported that a five-story residential building in the Darnytsky district had collapsed, while a shopping mall in central Kyiv was struck.

– Ukrainian Strikes on Russia –

The attack followed one of Kyiv’s deadliest assaults in the three-year war on July 31, which left more than 30 people dead, including five children. Ukrainian officials also confirmed a Russian strike in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Russian authorities claimed to have destroyed more than 100 Ukrainian drones overnight. Local officials said a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at an oil refinery in the Krasnodar region but reported no casualties.

In recent months, Russian forces have been slowly advancing on Ukrainian territory, even as diplomatic talks have intensified. Earlier this month, Trump hosted a high-profile summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, followed by a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European allies.

Despite these engagements, little progress has been made. Ukraine insists that any peace agreement must include security guarantees from the West to deter future Russian aggression. Moscow, however, has dismissed Kyiv’s demands as unrealistic and particularly opposed the idea of Western peacekeeping troops being stationed in Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Zelensky announced that his administration would meet with US officials in New York on Friday. He also criticized Moscow’s stance, saying he had seen “very arrogant and negative signals from Moscow regarding the negotiations,” and urged greater “pressure” to “force Russia to take real steps.”