A deadly overnight Russian assault rocked Ukraine’s capital Kyiv on Thursday, killing at least two people and injuring 16 others, in what officials are calling one of the largest aerial attacks in recent months. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the assault involved 18 missiles and more than 400 drones targeting civilian infrastructure in the capital.
Residents endured three hours of terror as waves of drones and missiles filled the night sky. Authorities reported widespread damage, with debris from downed drones setting fire to residential buildings, vehicles, warehouses, and healthcare facilities. Fires raged across several city districts, including Podilsky, where a primary care center was nearly destroyed.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed the deaths of a 68-year-old woman and a 22-year-old police officer. Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko urged citizens to stay in shelters and keep windows closed due to heavy smoke lingering over the city.
The Ukrainian air force warned of potential drone strikes across multiple regions, though casualty reports outside Kyiv remain unconfirmed. This attack comes just days after Ukraine suffered what it described as Russia’s largest aerial offensive yet, involving over 700 drones and multiple cruise missiles.
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission reported that June saw the highest monthly civilian toll in three years, with 232 people killed and over 1,300 injured. Civilian casualties have now been reported in at least 16 Ukrainian regions, underscoring the growing reach of Russian airstrikes.
President Zelensky condemned the attack as an escalation of terror and called for faster international action. “Sanctions must intensify, and weapons production must accelerate,” he said, adding that he would speak with international partners to secure funding for interceptor drones and air defense systems.
Meanwhile, international diplomacy remains stalled. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that diplomatic channels have been “exhausted,” while Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov echoed the sentiment. US President Donald Trump criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin’s double-speak, saying, “He’s nice in public, but it’s meaningless.”
In Washington, Congress is advancing a bipartisan sanctions bill targeting countries like China and India that continue to import Russian oil and gas. The European Union is also preparing a new round of sanctions.
Attention is now shifting to a two-day Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, attended by delegates from 77 countries. With the rising intensity of Russian drone warfare, Ukraine’s airspace protection is expected to dominate discussions.
Later Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of a summit in Malaysia, although hopes for any breakthrough remain slim.
The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, launched in February 2022, shows no sign of winding down. With mounting civilian casualties and deepening international divisions, the war appears set to continue into yet another devastating phase.
