KYIV — Russia launched a massive missile and drone assault on Ukraine's capital Kyiv overnight, killing at least 21 people, Ukrainian officials said on Thursday.
The attack involved waves of ballistic and cruise missiles along with hundreds of drones, one of the largest of its kind on the city since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, according to Kyiv authorities.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the strikes damaged residential buildings, an ambulance station and other civilian infrastructure, sparking fires and building collapses. Emergency services were searching rubble for survivors as the death toll rose.
Ukraine's air force reported that Russia fired 74 missiles, including a high number of ballistic ones, and 496 drones. Air defences intercepted most, but multiple projectiles struck the capital, officials said.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the assault, saying it targeted civilian areas. He called for strengthened international support for Ukraine's air defences.
The Russian Defence Ministry said its forces carried out a "massive attack" using long-range, high-precision weapons on military and energy facilities as well as airports in Kyiv and other locations, in what it described as retaliation for recent Ukrainian strikes.
At least 21 people were killed and scores more injured, according to Ukrainian officials, with the toll expected to rise as rescue operations continued.
The situation remained fluid, with emergency responders active across affected districts of Kyiv. Further details on the extent of damage and casualties were still emerging.
