Kyiv: Ukraine faced one of the most devastating aerial attacks since the war began, as Russia launched a massive overnight strike of drones and missiles across multiple regions, with the capital Kyiv taking the heaviest blow. The assault, which continued for more than 12 hours, killed at least four people, including a 12-year-old girl, and left dozens wounded. Entire neighborhoods were reduced to rubble, hospitals were struck, and apartment blocks collapsed, leaving survivors trapped under debris.
According to Ukraine’s air force, Russia deployed 595 drones and 48 missiles, making it one of the largest single attacks of the war. Despite Ukraine’s formidable defenses intercepting the majority 568 drones and 43 missiles the sheer volume overwhelmed systems and allowed several strikes to land in densely populated areas. Explosions rocked multiple districts in Kyiv, sending plumes of smoke into the sky and leaving streets littered with broken glass, twisted metal, and burning vehicles.
The offensive extended beyond the capital, with strikes reported in Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Odesa, and Khmelnytskyi. Several industrial facilities and power substations were hit, and reports of civilian injuries continued to emerge from across the country.
The most harrowing scenes unfolded in Kyiv’s residential quarters, where families were jolted awake by relentless explosions. A cardiology clinic was damaged, and firefighters struggled to contain blazes in multi-storey apartment complexes. Authorities confirmed the deaths of at least four civilians, among them a young girl whose loss has become emblematic of the toll on innocent lives.
Rescue teams worked through the night, pulling survivors from collapsed structures and rushing the injured to hospitals already strained by previous attacks. For many Kyiv residents, the attack was a chilling reminder that no corner of the city is safe.
The scale of the Russian barrage rattled neighboring countries as well. Poland temporarily closed its southeastern airspace and scrambled fighter jets amid concerns that drones or missiles could stray across its borders. Though no direct violations were reported, the move highlighted NATO’s growing anxiety over the risk of spillover.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack as “brutal terrorism against civilians,” declaring that Moscow had shown once again it had no interest in peace. He renewed calls for international partners to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses and tighten sanctions on Russian energy revenues, which continue to finance the war effort.
“Our skies are still vulnerable,” Zelenskyy said. “Every delay in providing protection costs Ukrainian lives. The world must not allow this terror to continue.”
Russia’s defense ministry confirmed the operation, describing it as a “massive strike” targeting Ukraine’s military-industrial complexes, airfields, and defense infrastructure. Moscow denied intentionally striking civilians, despite mounting evidence of devastation in apartment blocks, hospitals, and schools. Analysts noted that the timing shortly after major diplomatic engagements between Ukraine and its allies suggested an attempt to send a message of defiance.
The attack underscores Russia’s evolving strategy of overwhelming Ukraine’s air defenses through saturation strikes. Military experts warned that repeated barrages of such scale could deplete Ukraine’s missile stocks and air defense interceptors, leaving cities increasingly exposed.
Internationally, the strike raises pressing questions. Will NATO enhance its eastern flank readiness after Poland’s airspace scare? Will the U.S. and Europe expedite delivery of advanced air defense systems? And can further sanctions meaningfully curb Russia’s capacity to fund such attacks?
As dawn broke over Kyiv, emergency crews continued searching through the ruins. The tragedy has reinforced Ukraine’s determination to push for greater global action, not only militarily but also diplomatically. The government is expected to present evidence of war crimes to international bodies, using civilian deaths as proof of Russia’s disregard for humanitarian law.
For now, Ukrainians brace themselves for the possibility of another wave of attacks. The night of September 28, 2025, will be remembered as one of the darkest of this war a night when the sheer scale of destruction tested both the resilience of a nation and the resolve of the world to stand by it.