Kyiv Rocked by Massive Russian Drone and Missile Attack; 15 Injured

A major overnight Russian attack on Kyiv with missiles and drones leaves 15 injured. Ukraine urges global action and calls for ceasefire talks.

One of the Largest Air Assaults Since War Began

Kyiv endured one of the largest Russian air assaults since the war began, involving 14 ballistic missiles and 250 drones.
At least 15 people were injured, and a number of residential buildings were damaged. Ukraine called for international pressure on Russia to agree to an immediate ceasefire.

Coordinated Attack Hits Ukrainian Capital

In one of the worst air attacks on Kyiv since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, Russia launched a coordinated attack of 14 ballistic missiles and more than 250 long-range Shahed drones against Ukraine overnight.
At least 15 civilians were injured in the Ukrainian capital, officials confirmed on Saturday.

The attack caused widespread destruction, damaging multiple apartment buildings and igniting fires in residential areas.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, “It was a difficult night for Ukraine.”
He urged the global community to impose new international sanctions on Moscow to pressure it into agreeing to a ceasefire.

Witnesses Describe Chaos

In the early morning hours, Reuters journalists reported hearing the whirring of drones followed by a series of loud explosions across Kyiv.
Anti-aircraft systems lit up the skies, attempting to intercept the incoming threats.

Firefighters were seen attempting to control blazes, and thick plumes of smoke filled the skyline.

Residents in Obolon Recount Horror

Residents in Obolon, one of the hardest-hit districts in northwest Kyiv, woke up to broken windows, destroyed balconies, and the terror of missile strikes.

A 64-year-old resident, Olha Chyrukha, lamented:
“I just want them to agree to a ceasefire. My three-year-old granddaughter screamed in fear.”

Civilian Accounts of the Attack

Another resident, Olha Kalina, described how her apartment was hit while her two children, aged 20 and 13, were inside.

“At 3 AM, they called me and said: ‘Mom, we’re being bombed. There’s fire on the balcony.’”

She rushed back home to find them sheltering in a nearby underground parking lot with smoke-covered faces.
Her apartment is now uninhabitable.

Military and Emergency Response

The Kyiv City Military Administration stated that 6 of the ballistic missiles and 245 drones were intercepted:

• 128 drones shot down
• 117 jammed electronically

Despite these efforts, debris fell across six districts, causing fires and injuries.
At least five people in Obolon were seriously injured.

One local, Yuriy Bondarchuk, described:
“Moments later, there was a loud boom. Glass shattered. My balcony and windows were completely destroyed.”

Longest Air Raid Alert in Months

Air raid alerts in Kyiv lasted over seven hours, marking one of the longest warnings in recent months.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko had warned citizens that more than 20 Russian drones were advancing toward the city.

Debris from drones struck a shopping mall and residential buildings, prompting a massive emergency response.

Ceasefire Hopes and Prisoner Swap

The attack occurred just hours after Russia and Ukraine conducted their largest prisoner exchange of the war, swapping hundreds of soldiers and civilians.

U.S. President Donald Trump had reportedly encouraged new ceasefire negotiations, and both Kyiv and Moscow indicated a willingness to explore talks.

Ukraine Demands Sanctions, Cites Russian Aggression

Ukraine’s military stated that this was one of the largest combined missile and drone attacks on Kyiv in the three-year-long conflict.

President Zelenskyy emphasized:

“Every such attack convinces the world that it is Moscow prolonging the war.”

He called for expanded sanctions against core sectors of the Russian economy to force the Kremlin into peace negotiations.

A Ray of Hope for Diplomacy?

This coordinated prisoner exchange has been interpreted by some analysts as a cooperative effort, in an otherwise brutal and long-term war.

390 Ukrainian captives were returned home, as part of the first phase of a swap process.

There may be more returns and releases later this week.

Yet, these are even marginal moves toward diplomatic ties, and the first attack on the same evening demonstrates the enormity of the challenges that would still be faced in creating peace.