Russia launches massive missile and drone assault on Kyiv and other cities, killing three and injuring dozens
Russia launched a major missile and drone offensive on Kyiv early Friday, killing three emergency responders and injuring dozens more across Ukraine, according to officials.
The strikes triggered powerful explosions across the capital and other cities, damaging homes, infrastructure, and energy facilities.
The assault came shortly after a warning from Russian President Vladimir Putin, delivered through former U.S. President Donald Trump, promising retaliation for recent Ukrainian drone attacks that destroyed several of Russia's strategic bombers deep within its territory.
Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed that the three fatalities in Kyiv were first responders who died during rescue efforts following one of the strikes. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Russia of targeting civilians and critical infrastructure in response to the destruction of its aircraft, saying residential buildings and energy systems had been hit.
Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that it had targeted military and related infrastructure in retaliation for what it labeled as Ukrainian "terrorist acts."
The statement came after Ukrainian officials reported that Russia had launched a heavy missile and drone attack on Kyiv in the early hours of Friday, resulting in the deaths of three people.
Russia also accused Ukraine of carrying out a deadly bombing over the weekend on a railway bridge in western Russia. The explosion occurred just as a train carrying 388 passengers was passing underneath. The Kremlin confirmed that the recent extensive strikes were retaliation for these so-called “acts of terrorism” by Kyiv.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, “Everything happening within the framework of the special military operation in Ukraine, everything our military does daily, is a direct response to the actions of the Kyiv regime, which has taken on all the traits of a terrorist regime.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that 49 people were injured in attacks across several Ukrainian cities, calling for stronger action from Western allies to counter Russia’s escalation. He emphasized the need for urgency: “If someone is not applying pressure and is giving the war more time to take lives—that is complicity.”
Ukraine's air force described the assault as one of the largest to date, with 407 drones and 45 cruise and ballistic missiles launched by Russian forces. Kyiv’s metro system was disrupted when a strike damaged tracks between stations, and the national rail service reported rerouting some trains due to additional rail damage outside the capital.
In Kyiv’s Solomianskyi district, a drone struck an apartment building, blasting a hole into the structure and scattering debris. Vehicles parked below were crushed by falling concrete, and investigators were seen examining what appeared to be drone components.
Residents described a terrifying night, with many taking shelter in underground car parks and metro stations. Witnesses reported the loud buzzing of kamikaze drones and the sound of Ukrainian anti-aircraft fire followed by window-rattling explosions.
Beyond the capital, Russian strikes also targeted Ternopil in western Ukraine, damaging industrial facilities and leaving parts of the city without power. Ten people were injured, and local authorities warned residents to stay indoors due to toxic smoke from a fire.
In Lutsk, another western city, 15 people were injured in attacks that hit homes, schools, and a government building, according to prosecutors.
In response, Ukraine’s military launched pre-emptive strikes on the Engels and Dyagilevo airfields in Russia’s Saratov and Ryazan regions, as well as on three fuel storage sites.
These events follow a daring Ukrainian operation last weekend, in which intelligence operatives destroyed several Russian strategic bombers on the ground using quadcopter drones concealed in wooden sheds.
After a call with Putin on Wednesday, Trump confirmed that Russia was planning a response to the attacks on its air bases, though no details were disclosed.
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