Kyiv: In the most extensive aerial offensive since the full-scale war began, Russia launched a massive overnight drone and missile strike across Ukraine, with the capital, Kyiv, suffering direct hits and widespread damage.

According to Ukrainian officials, fragments from intercepted Russian drones crashed into residential buildings in Kyiv, sparking a significant blaze in a high-rise apartment complex. Emergency services rushed to the scene as flames engulfed several floors, sending terrified residents fleeing into the streets.

Across Ukraine, the scale of the attack was unprecedented — a total of 367 airborne threats, including 298 drones and 69 missiles, targeted cities and infrastructure. At least 13 people were killed, including three children in Zhytomyr, with dozens more injured in Kyiv and surrounding areas.

The city’s Obolonskyi and Sviatoshynskyi districts were among the hardest hit, where drone wreckage triggered fires and structural damage. The night sky over Kyiv lit up with anti-aircraft fire and explosions as Ukrainian air defenses worked relentlessly to intercept the incoming assault.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a stark appeal to global leaders, calling for a stronger response, particularly from the United States. “Silence is a green light to terror,” he stated, demanding increased military and diplomatic support to confront the intensifying Russian aggression.

Ironically, the attack coincided with a rare gesture of diplomacy — the final stage of a prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia, with each side agreeing to release 1,000 detainees. The contrast between dialogue and destruction starkly illustrates the fragile and volatile nature of the ongoing conflict.

As Ukraine marks over two years since the invasion began, this devastating strike serves as a grim reminder of how quickly the frontlines can reach civilians, far from the battlefield. The world watches as the pressure mounts on allies to step in before further catastrophe unfolds.