Russian missile attack on Kyiv collapses apartment building
A Russian missile and drone attack struck a residential apartment building in Kyiv early Thursday morning local time, injuring at least 11 people and trapping residents beneath the rubble, according to Ukrainian officials.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko urged residents to take shelter as waves of ballistic missiles and drones entered Ukrainian airspace overnight, starting around 11 p.m. local time as air defense systems engaged incoming missiles. Powerful explosions shook the capital shortly before 2 a.m.
“In the Darnytskyi district, due to falling debris near a residential building, people are trapped in one of the apartments,” Klitschko said on Telegram. “There are also fires in private houses in Darnytsia. In the Sviatoshynskyi district, there is also a fire in a private house.”
He later reported that debris ignited a fire at a market in the Shevchenkivskyi district and caused a fire and partial collapse of a five-story apartment building in Darnytskyi. Klitschko said at least 11 people were injured and hospitalized.
Ahead of the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that intelligence indicated Russia was preparing another large-scale missile strike, urging Ukrainians to “stay safe” and protect their families.
“We have information about another massive Russian strike — we have relevant intelligence data,” Zelensky said. “We know that Putin has been preparing a massive strike against Ukraine for some time. That is exactly the threat we are facing tonight.”
The overnight barrage came one day after Ukraine carried out two long-range strikes inside Russia, targeting an oil refinery and a military facility. Zelensky described the attacks as justified retaliation for Russia’s continued bombardment of Ukraine, saying they were part of Kyiv’s increasingly effective long-range strike campaign.
Ukraine’s recent attacks on Russian energy infrastructure have strained fuel supplies and disrupted daily life in parts of Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently acknowledged the impact, saying attacks on the country’s critical infrastructure “create problems” while vowing to continue Russia’s military campaign.