Kyiv: In a harrowing escalation of the ongoing conflict, Russia launched a prolonged aerial assault on Ukraine’s capital early Thursday, killing at least six people and injuring dozens in what officials described as one of the deadliest attacks on Kyiv in recent months. The assault, which began before dawn and lasted nearly seven hours, involved an intense barrage of over 300 Iranian-made Shahed drones and multiple Iskander-K cruise missiles. Despite the Ukrainian air defense system managing to intercept a significant number of the incoming threats, approximately 26 projectiles struck their targets across Kyiv, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
Residential buildings, a children’s hospital, schools, and civilian infrastructure in the Solomianskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, and Holosiivskyi districts were severely damaged, with some structures partially or completely collapsed. Among the dead was a six-year-old child, while dozens of others, including women and children, sustained injuries ranging from critical to minor. Rescue workers and emergency responders have been tirelessly combing through the debris to locate survivors and recover bodies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack as another clear act of state-sponsored terrorism, demanding stronger international sanctions against Moscow and immediate defensive support for Ukraine. He shared footage of the destruction on social media, underscoring the urgent need for long-range air defense systems. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha further accused Russia of intentionally targeting civilians, stating that no justification exists for such a blatant war crime.
The attack comes amidst heightened diplomatic pressure on Russia, with U.S. President Donald Trump issuing an ultimatum demanding Moscow show visible commitment to peace talks before August 8 or face expanded sanctions. As Kyiv mourns its dead and treats its wounded, the global community watches with growing alarm, increasingly confronted with the undeniable human cost of Russia’s relentless aggression.