Russia strikes Kyiv with 68 missiles, 351 drones; 11 killed ahead of Nato summit
At least 11 people were killed and more than 60 others injured after Russia launched a massive overnight missile and drone attack on Kyiv and surrounding areas early Monday, Ukrainian officials said, just days after the deadliest strike on the capital this year and ahead of a key Nato summit in Turkey.According to Reuters,10 people were killed in Kyiv and one in the surrounding Bucha district.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said 46 people were wounded in the capital, while another 15 were injured in the wider Kyiv region. Odesa also came under attack, leaving at least one person injured.Residential buildings destroyed as rescue efforts continueThe strikes heavily damaged residential neighbourhoods, with Ukrainian authorities saying at least 15 apartment buildings were damaged or destroyed.The historic Podilskyi district suffered some of the worst damage, where a nine-storey residential block was largely destroyed from the fifth floor upwards.
Officials said four apartment buildings in the district were hit, while the eastern Darnytskyi district was also among the hardest-hit areas.Emergency crews continued searching through the rubble for survivors as firefighters battled blazes.Reuters reported that 22-year-old Alyona was waiting near the destroyed building for news of her missing 19-year-old friend."We're sitting here and waiting until they retrieve them...
She's so kind, only 19 years old. She's such a kind girl," she said.Russia launches missiles and dronesUkraine's Air Force said Russia fired 68 missiles, including 23 ballistic missiles and six supersonic and hypersonic missiles, along with 351 drones.According to Ukrainian officials, air defences intercepted or neutralised 37 missiles and 326 drones.
However, none of the ballistic or hypersonic missiles were intercepted.President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly urged Western allies to provide more Patriot missile interceptors, saying they are Ukraine's only effective defence against incoming ballistic missiles. He renewed those calls just hours before Monday's attack.Russia's defence ministry confirmed carrying out what it described as a "massive strike" using long-range precision weapons launched from air, land and sea, along with drones.Moscow said it targeted military, energy and defence-industrial facilities in Kyiv and several other Ukrainian regions.Attack comes before Nato summitThe latest assault comes just days after a Russian strike killed 31 people in Kyiv, the deadliest attack on the capital this year.The renewed bombardment also comes ahead of this week's Nato summit in Ankara, where US President Donald Trump is expected to meet Zelenskyy.Trump is also expected to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin after the summit as Washington attempts to revive stalled peace efforts.Ukraine and Russia continue cross-border attacksUkraine also carried out drone attacks inside Russia overnight.Reuters reported that Ukrainian drones damaged the Baltic Sea ports of Vysotsk and Ust-Luga, a major Russian oil export terminal, while attacks also caused a temporary power blackout in Sevastopol, home to Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Russian-annexed Crimea.Poland briefly scrambled fighter jets as a precaution during the Russian strikes, highlighting growing regional security concerns as the conflict continues into its fourth year.Catch the latest world news and top headlines.
Download the TOI App.