At least 18 people have been killed after Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone assault on residential areas of Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, in the early hours of Monday, marking the second major attack on the city within a week as world leaders prepared for the upcoming NATO summit.
Ukrainian officials said the overnight barrage struck apartment buildings and other civilian locations, leaving dozens injured and causing extensive destruction across the capital. One missile slammed into a multi-storey residential building, creating a massive crater and destroying its upper floors.
Residents reported hearing repeated explosions as air raid sirens echoed throughout Kyiv. In the nearby suburb of Vyshneve, authorities began evacuating residents amid fears that unexploded ordnance remained buried beneath the rubble.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Western allies to strengthen the country’s air defence capabilities, saying the latest attack underscored the urgent need for greater military assistance.
“It is critically important that the world — first and foremost the United States and our European partners — come out of the NATO Summit in Ankara with strong decisions in support of our air defense, and thus the protection of ordinary people’s lives,” Zelenskyy said.
According to the Ukrainian leader, Russia launched 68 missiles and 351 attack drones during the overnight offensive. Although Ukrainian air defence systems intercepted many of the drones and cruise missiles, Zelenskyy said the country still lacked enough interceptor missiles to defend against ballistic missile attacks.
He said at least 14 people were killed in Kyiv and the surrounding region, while about 60 others sustained injuries.
Residents recounted the terrifying moments during the bombardment.
“At 1:30 am, a powerful hit occurred. A blast wave, all the windows blew out. And then it hit three more times,” Oleksandr Bakhlukov, a resident of Kyiv’s Podilsky district, told AFP. “Glass was falling down. There wasn’t a single pane of glass left in the apartment.”
Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed carrying out what it described as a “massive strike,” claiming it targeted military-industrial facilities as well as fuel and energy infrastructure in several Ukrainian regions.
However, Ukrainian authorities said about 30 residential buildings in Kyiv were damaged, with emergency crews continuing search-and-rescue operations throughout the day.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the latest assault highlighted Ukraine’s urgent need for additional air defence systems, adding that the issue would feature prominently during discussions at the NATO summit.
Meanwhile, Russia’s military said it intercepted more than 500 Ukrainian drones overnight, while Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that several waves of drones had been heading toward the Russian capital.
The latest escalation comes just days after another Russian strike on Kyiv killed more than 30 people. Both Russia and Ukraine have intensified their attacks in recent weeks as United States-led diplomatic efforts to end the more than four-year war have failed to achieve a breakthrough.
The White House said US President Donald Trump is expected to meet with Zelenskyy during the NATO summit to discuss efforts to end the conflict before holding further talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
