KYIV, Ukraine — Russia launched one of its most massive attacks on Ukraine’s capital since the war began, killing at least four people including a 12-year-old girl and injuring around 40 others in overnight drone and missile strikes that targeted residential buildings and civilian infrastructure across Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia fired nearly 500 strike drones and more than 40 missiles in the coordinated assault that began around 6 a.m. local time, marking what independent monitors described as one of the biggest strikes on the city since February 2022.
The attack prompted Poland to close airspace near its southeastern cities of Lublin and Rzeszow while scrambling fighter jets in response to the massive Russian offensive. Anti-aircraft fire rang out through the night as drones flew over the Ukrainian capital, forcing some residents to seek shelter in deep underground metro stations.
Kyiv city administrator Tymur Tkachenko confirmed that a 12-year-old girl was among the fatalities, writing on Telegram that “the Russians have restarted the child death counter.” Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that strikes targeted residential buildings, civilian infrastructure, a medical facility and a children’s nursery, with damage reported at more than 20 locations across the capital.
“This is how Russia is making its real position known,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram following the assault. “Moscow wants to continue to fight and kill and deserves only the harshest pressure in the world.”
The coordinated strikes extended beyond Kyiv to multiple Ukrainian regions including Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi, Sumy and Odessa. In Zaporizhzhia, at least 16 people including three children were injured in the southern city, according to local authorities.
Zelensky characterized the overnight bombardment as “brutal strikes” that demonstrated Russia’s continued commitment to escalating the conflict through attacks on civilian targets. The scale and intensity of the assault represented a significant escalation in Russian tactics targeting Ukraine’s capital.
Polish military officials described their airspace closure as preventive measures aimed at securing national airspace and protecting citizens. “In connection with the activity of the Russian Federation’s long-range aviation carrying out strikes on the territory of Ukraine, Polish and allied aircraft have begun operating in our airspace,” the Polish military announced on X.
Flight tracking service Flightradar24 attributed the Polish airspace restrictions to “unplanned military activity related to ensuring state security,” highlighting the cross-border implications of Russia’s expanded assault on Ukrainian territory.
The massive attack occurred as tensions between Russia and NATO members have increased over allegations that Moscow has violated the airspace of several neighboring countries in recent weeks. NATO recently conducted air defense missions over Poland in response to what officials described as “unprecedented” Russian drone incursions.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov addressed the United Nations Saturday amid the growing airspace violation allegations, insisting during his speech at the 80th UN General Assembly that Russia had no intention of attacking NATO or European Union member states while warning of “decisive response” to any aggression against Moscow.
“Threats of force against Russia, accused of practically planning an attack on the North Atlantic Alliance and the European Union, are becoming increasingly common,” Lavrov said in New York. “Russia has never had and does not have such intentions, but any aggression against my country will be met with a decisive response.”
During a subsequent news conference, Lavrov addressed questions about potential responses to nations shooting down Russian drones or aircraft. “If there are attempts to shoot down any flying object, or indeed any object at all, on our territory, in our airspace, then I think people will seriously regret it, undertaking such a gross violation of our territorial integrity, our sovereignty,” he warned.
The foreign minister, who has held his position for 21 years, maintained that Moscow “has nothing to hide” regarding allegations of airspace violations while defending Russia’s right to respond to perceived threats against its territory.
The overnight assault on Kyiv demonstrated Russia’s continued capability to launch large-scale coordinated attacks despite nearly three years of warfare and international sanctions. The targeting of civilian infrastructure and residential areas reflects ongoing Russian tactics aimed at undermining Ukrainian morale and infrastructure.
International observers noted the timing of the massive attack coinciding with Lavrov’s UN appearance, suggesting potential coordination between diplomatic messaging and military operations to reinforce Russian positions through both diplomatic and military channels.
The scale of the overnight bombardment, involving hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, represents one of Russia’s most significant single-day attacks on Ukrainian territory in recent months, indicating continued Russian military capacity despite equipment losses and international sanctions.
The civilian casualties, particularly the death of a 12-year-old girl, underscore the continued impact of the conflict on non-combatant populations in Ukrainian urban centers. The targeting of medical facilities and children’s nurseries raises additional concerns about compliance with international humanitarian law.
Ukrainian air defense systems engaged the incoming missiles and drones throughout the night, though the extent of successful interceptions was not immediately clear. The sustained nature of the attack challenged Ukrainian defensive capabilities while demonstrating Russian coordination across multiple launch platforms.
The assault’s impact on civilian infrastructure may affect essential services in affected Ukrainian cities, potentially disrupting power, water and communication systems that serve millions of residents across the targeted regions.
Source: skynews
