Russian forces launched a large-scale overnight drone and missile assault on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, injuring at least five people, damaging residential buildings, and sparking multiple fires across the city, according to Ukrainian officials.
The attack targeted several areas of Kyiv during the early hours of Thursday, with explosions heard throughout the capital as air defense systems responded to incoming threats.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said emergency crews were deployed after a hotel on the city’s central Shevchenko Boulevard caught fire. Images circulating online showed flames engulfing the roof of the building as firefighters worked to contain the blaze.
Klitschko later confirmed that Kyiv also came under a ballistic missile attack, resulting in at least five injuries in one of the city’s central districts. Rescue teams were dispatched to several locations affected by the strikes.
Authorities reported that residents became trapped inside a damaged nine-story apartment building, while another high-rise residential structure suffered roof damage and fire. Emergency responders worked through the night to evacuate residents and assess the extent of the destruction.
The latest assault forced many Kyiv residents to seek shelter in underground metro stations, where families gathered with sleeping bags and inflatable mattresses as air raid sirens sounded across the city.
The attack came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that intelligence assessments indicated a significant overnight strike was likely. In response to the security threat, Zelenskyy cut short his visit to Dublin, where he had attended events marking the beginning of Ireland’s six-month rotating presidency of the European Union.
The renewed assault highlights the continued intensity of Russia’s aerial campaign against Ukraine, with Kyiv remaining a frequent target of drone and missile strikes despite extensive air defense efforts.
Ukrainian authorities are continuing damage assessments as rescue operations remain underway in affected districts. Further details on casualties and infrastructure damage are expected as investigations continue.