Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that the death toll has climbed to 16 after a series of Russian missile and drone assaults on the capital city of Ukraine, including two children among the casualties.
Zelenskyy stated in a late Thursday post that 16 individuals, including two children and a police officer, lost their lives due to Russia’s attack on Kyiv. Additionally, more than 150 people, including 16 children and six police officers, have been wounded.
During the overnight onslaught, explosions shook Kyiv, causing significant damage, including the partial collapse of a nine-story residential building. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the City Military Administration, mentioned that rescue teams were searching for survivors trapped under the debris.
Yana Zhabborova, a resident of the damaged building, described waking up to thunderous explosions that shattered doors and windows, leaving her with nothing but shock and stress. The attack marked the highest number of children injured in a single strike on Kyiv since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Ukrainian air force reported that Russia launched 309 Shahed and decoy drones, along with eight Iskander-K cruise missiles during the night. Ukrainian defenses intercepted and disabled 288 drones and three missiles. The attacks targeted multiple regions, with over 100 buildings damaged in Kyiv alone, including residential homes, schools, and medical facilities.
In a conflicting account, Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed to have downed 32 Ukrainian drones overnight, sparking a fire in the Penza region. Meanwhile, in the Volgograd region, trains were halted due to drone wreckage falling on railway infrastructure.
Zelenskyy urged Ukraine’s allies to uphold their defense commitments and exert pressure on Moscow for genuine negotiations. The escalating conflict has drawn global attention, with Western leaders expressing concerns over Putin’s lack of commitment to peace efforts in Ukraine.