Russia kills at least 30 in massive missile and drone attack on Kyiv, deadliest strike on the capital this year

The attack

Russian forces bombarded Kyiv with missiles and drones for 11 hours from Wednesday night into Thursday morning, striking apartment buildings and civilian infrastructure. Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched 74 missiles, including 24 Iskander ballistic missiles and 4 Zircon anti-ship missiles, along with 496 drones. More than 50,000 people sheltered in metro stations as air raid alerts sounded.

“This is the enemy's most massive attack on the capital.”

Casualties and rescue

At least 30 people were killed and nearly 100 injured, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The head of Kyiv's military administration, Tymur Tkachenko, put the injured at 91, with 10 people still missing. Rescue teams worked through the day searching collapsed and burned apartment blocks, including a partially collapsed multi-story building in the Darnytskyi district. The Ukrainian Red Cross said its humanitarian warehouse was damaged, destroying 320,000 relief items and affecting emergency operations across the country.

Retaliation and context

Russia's defence ministry described the attack as a response to Ukrainian long-range strikes on its oil refineries and supply routes. Ukraine has targeted Russian energy infrastructure in a 40-day blitz, causing fuel shortages and frustration inside Russia, especially in annexed Crimea. Moscow said its strikes hit military and energy facilities, but the damage to residential areas and a swimming pool in Zaporizhzhia, captured on security cameras, underscored the civilian toll.

“If our partners had delivered on their promises in a timely manner, I think we could have saved more homes and lives today.”

Diplomatic and military fallout

Zelenskyy cut short a visit to Ireland after the attack. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she would propose new sanctions on entities supporting Russia's military-industrial complex. Diplomatic efforts, including those by the Trump administration, have stalled; both Trump and Zelenskyy are expected at a NATO summit in Turkey next week.

“The more Moscow attacks civilians, the more sanctions must be imposed.”

Additional strikes

Overnight on Friday, Russian attacks killed four people in the Sumy region, including a child under two, and injured seven in Kryvyi Rih, Zelenskyy's hometown. Meanwhile, Ukrainian missile strikes on the Russian border city of Belgorod killed one woman and caused water and electricity shortages, according to the mayor.