KYIV — Russia launched a new wave of overnight missile and drone attacks on Kyiv early Friday, triggering air raid alerts across the Ukrainian capital as explosions echoed through the city and air defense units engaged incoming targets, Ukrainian authorities said.
Officials said emergency crews were deployed to several districts after debris from intercepted aerial weapons fell in residential areas, damaging buildings and infrastructure. Initial reports from local authorities indicated casualties and property damage, although officials said assessments were continuing and warned that the toll could change as rescue operations progressed.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said emergency services responded to multiple incidents following the attack, while the Kyiv City Military Administration urged residents to remain in shelters until the all-clear was issued. Ukraine's Air Force reported that Russia launched a combination of missiles and attack drones during the night, with air defense systems attempting to intercept the incoming weapons.
The latest strike came only days after one of the deadliest attacks on the Ukrainian capital this year, underscoring the sustained pace of Russian long-range aerial assaults. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly warned that the country's air defenses remain under increasing pressure because of shortages of interceptor missiles for Western-supplied systems.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Ukraine's partners to accelerate deliveries of air defense equipment and expand cooperation on missile production, arguing that stronger defensive capabilities are needed to counter Russia's escalating attacks on cities and civilian infrastructure. Speaking earlier on Friday, Zelenskyy said Ukraine was also seeking to strengthen domestic missile development alongside support from European partners.
Russia's Defense Ministry did not immediately comment on the latest overnight strikes. Moscow has consistently said it targets military and military-related infrastructure in Ukraine, while Kyiv says Russian attacks have increasingly struck residential neighborhoods, commercial facilities and other civilian sites. Reuters has not independently verified claims by either side regarding specific targets.
The renewed bombardment came as fighting continued along the front line and both sides reported additional long-range strikes beyond the battlefield. Ukraine has intensified drone attacks on military and energy-related facilities inside Russia in recent months, while Moscow has maintained frequent missile and drone barrages against Ukrainian cities.
Rescue and damage assessment operations were continuing in Kyiv on Friday, with local authorities expected to provide updated casualty figures and details of the destruction as information becomes available.
