Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at least 16 people, including two children, have been killed after Russia launched a large-scale overnight drone and missile attack on Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine.
Emergency services reported that victims’ bodies were recovered from the rubble of a partially destroyed apartment building in the capital, while rescuers continue searching for around 20 people still missing. Dozens more residents were injured, and many others were pulled alive from the debris.
The Ukrainian State Emergency Service (DSNS) said the attack struck multiple residential buildings across Kyiv, leaving widespread destruction and triggering large-scale rescue operations involving more than 1,500 emergency workers and police officers.
Officials said Russia launched more than 670 drones and 56 missiles in the overnight assault, making it one of the largest aerial attacks since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. Ukrainian authorities said hundreds of sites were hit across the country, including homes, schools and public infrastructure.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that several residential districts were affected, including a nine-storey apartment building in the Darnytskyi area where most of the casualties were reported.
Rescue teams continued searching through collapsed sections of the building, with officials warning that the death toll could rise as more victims may still be trapped under the rubble.
Zelenskyy said Ukrainian air defences intercepted a large proportion of incoming weapons, but stressed that the country still faces major shortages of advanced missile defence systems, particularly those capable of stopping ballistic missiles.
He called for continued international support, including additional air defence systems and interceptors, saying they are essential to protecting civilian lives.
The latest strikes came shortly after a brief ceasefire expired earlier in the week, with both sides previously accusing each other of violations during the pause in fighting.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the attacks, saying Russia was deliberately targeting civilians and announcing further EU military and financial support for Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials also urged global powers, including the United States and China, to increase pressure on Moscow to end the war.
The strikes caused widespread disruption in Kyiv, damaging homes, a school, a veterinary clinic, and infrastructure, including parts of the city’s water supply system.
Rescue operations are continuing as authorities work to locate survivors and clear debris from affected sites.
Source: BBC News
