In the early hours of Saturday, Kyiv was rocked by a barrage of missiles and drones that left one person dead and 27 wounded, according to local authorities.
Attack Overview
Explosions echoed across the city for hours as ballistic missiles and drones struck residential and energy sites. The assault began before dawn and persisted into the morning, with Russian forces describing it as a “massive strike” that employed long-range precision-guided weapons, including Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, from land, air and sea.
The Russian Defense Ministry said the strike targeted energy infrastructure used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and enterprises of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex, claiming it was a response to Ukrainian attacks on civilian objects in Russia.
Ukrainian Response and Zelenskyy’s Message
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on Telegram that nearly 500 drones and 40 missiles were launched. He said the main targets were Kyiv’s energy and civilian infrastructure, noting that some districts were without electricity or heating.
“There have been many questions these days. Where is the Russian response to the proposals to end the war, which were made by the United States and the world?” Zelenskyy said. “Russian representatives hold long talks, in reality the ‘Kinzal’ and ‘Shaheds’ speak for them.”
The attack came as Zelenskyy prepared to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday for further talks aimed at ending the nearly four-year-old war.
Polish Airspace and Airport Closures
During the Russian onslaught, Poland scrambled fighter jets and temporarily closed airports in Lublin and Rzeszów near the Ukrainian border, according to the armed forces command on X. Polish authorities said there was no violation of Polish airspace, and the airports resumed operations later that day.
The reason for the alert was unclear, given that the attacks focused on Kyiv, far from the Polish border.
Impact on Kyiv Infrastructure and Buildings
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported over 10 damaged residential buildings. Evacuation teams were working to rescue people trapped under rubble.
A body was found under the rubble of one damaged building, Klymenko said.
In the Dnipro district, an 18-story residential building caught fire and emergency crews rushed to contain the blaze. A 24-story building in the Darnytsia district was also hit, with additional fires breaking out in the Obolonskyi and Holosiivsky districts.
The head of Kyiv’s City Military Administration, Tymur Tkachenko, noted that two children were among those wounded. The attack affected seven locations across the city.
In the wider Kyiv region, strikes hit industrial and residential buildings. In the Vyshhorod area, emergency crews rescued one person found under the rubble of a destroyed house.
Personal Accounts
Olena Karpenko, 52, recounted the terror of the attack: “His scream is still in my ears. I can’t believe it,” she said, weeping. She described a sudden explosion at a nearby thermal power plant, followed by a stronger blast that shook her home’s windows before the hit on her building.
“I saw how the apartment was burning, there was a fire and we heard a man’s screams, begging for help,” she added.
Key Takeaways
- Russia launched a missile and drone strike on Kyiv Saturday, killing one and wounding 27.
- The attack targeted energy infrastructure and residential buildings, causing widespread fires and power outages.
- Ukrainian President Zelenskyy announced the assault on Telegram and highlighted the lack of a Russian response to U.S. peace proposals.
The assault underscores the escalating intensity of the conflict as diplomatic talks continue.
Closing
The early-morning barrage on Kyiv demonstrates Russia’s continued use of advanced weaponry against Ukrainian targets, while the Ukrainian leadership remains engaged in high-level negotiations with the United States in hopes of ending the war. The city’s residents face ongoing danger as infrastructure repairs and emergency responses continue.
