Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has condemned Russia following a devastating missile strike on a Kyiv apartment building that killed 24 people, including three children, during what officials described as the heaviest air assault on the Ukrainian capital this year.
Rescue operations concluded Friday after emergency crews spent more than 28 hours searching through the rubble of the destroyed residential building in Kyiv’s Darnytskyi district. Hundreds of responders worked continuously to recover victims and rescue survivors trapped beneath the debris.
Zelenskyy visited the scene on Friday, laying red roses at the site and thanking rescue workers for their efforts.
“Our first responders worked non-stop for more than a day,” Zelenskyy said in a statement posted on Telegram. “The Russians practically levelled an entire section of the building with their missile.”
Ukrainian officials said approximately 30 people were rescued alive, while nearly 50 others suffered injuries. Authorities added that around 400 residents required psychological support following the attack.
Kyiv observed an official day of mourning Friday, with flags lowered to half-mast across the city and entertainment events canceled in honor of the victims.
According to preliminary findings cited by Zelenskyy, the apartment building was struck by a recently manufactured Russian Kh-101 cruise missile.
The Ukrainian president renewed calls for stronger international pressure on Moscow and urged allies to increase support for Ukraine’s air defense systems.
“A Russia like this can never be normalized,” Zelenskyy said. “A Russia that deliberately destroys lives and hopes to remain unpunished. Pressure is needed.”
The latest attack came as Russia launched more than 1,500 drones and dozens of missiles across Ukraine over two consecutive days, according to Ukrainian officials. Additional strikes reportedly killed six people in western Ukraine, far from active frontline combat zones.
Russia has not immediately commented on the Kyiv apartment strike. Moscow continues to deny intentionally targeting civilians, despite repeated attacks on residential areas and civilian infrastructure since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Meanwhile, Russian officials reported that a Ukrainian drone attack on the city of Ryazan killed four people, including a child, and damaged apartment buildings along with an industrial facility.
The escalation highlights the ongoing intensity of the war as both sides continue cross-border strikes while diplomatic efforts to end the conflict remain stalled.