Russia’s Overnight Drone Assault on Kyiv Injures 23 Individuals

Agencies

Kyiv: Russia launched a massive overnight drone and missile attack on Kyiv, injuring at least 23 people and damaging critical infrastructure, Ukrainian officials said early Friday.

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that the assault, which lasted over eight hours, involved 539 drones and 11 missiles targeting multiple regions across the country, with the capital bearing the brunt of the strikes.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said 14 of the injured were hospitalized as emergency services battled fires and cleared debris.

“This was a targeted strike on the capital of Ukraine,” the Air Force said via Telegram, highlighting the intensity of the attack which saw drone debris igniting fires in residential areas, including a medical facility in the Holosiivskyi district.

Railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia confirmed damage to railway infrastructure in Kyiv, resulting in diverted routes and delayed passenger trains.

Air raid sirens echoed throughout the night, and residents took shelter as explosions and anti-aircraft fire filled the skies. Social media footage showed buildings with shattered windows, cars engulfed in flames, and emergency crews working through the night.

According to Ukraine’s military, air defence units intercepted and destroyed 478 incoming air weapons. Nonetheless, attacks were recorded in at least eight regions nationwide, including the eastern city of Pokrovsk, where Russian shelling killed five people on Thursday night.

The attack comes amid escalating Russian offensives in recent weeks, with Kyiv experiencing some of the deadliest airstrikes since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Meanwhile, geopolitical efforts to resolve the conflict remain stalled. Former U.S. President Donald Trump said his recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin made “no progress” on peace efforts. The Kremlin, however, reiterated its stance on addressing the “root causes” of the conflict.

Ukraine has also warned of weakening defence capabilities following Washington’s decision to pause certain military shipments. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed hope for a conversation with Trump on Friday to discuss continued U.S. support.

While both Russia and Ukraine deny targeting civilians, thousands—mostly Ukrainians—have died since the war began.