By Blessing Nweke
A fresh wave of Russian drone and missile strikes hit Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, overnight, damaging residential buildings and injuring civilians as the war entered another period of intensified aerial attacks.
Ukrainian authorities said emergency crews responded to multiple districts after explosions rocked the city. Several apartment buildings were damaged, while fires broke out following the strikes. Rescue workers searched through debris and assisted residents forced to flee their homes.
Officials reported that at least 16 people were injured, including emergency responders who were caught while responding to the attacks. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said parts of an apartment building collapsed after sustaining a direct hit, leaving some residents trapped beneath the rubble.
The overnight assault prompted air raid alerts across much of Ukraine, sending residents into underground metro stations and shelters. Witnesses reported hearing repeated explosions as Ukrainian air defenses attempted to intercept incoming missiles and drones. Neighboring Poland also scrambled military aircraft as a precaution during the attack.
The strike came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned of a possible large-scale Russian assault and shortened an overseas visit to return home. Ukrainian officials said the bombardment targeted civilian infrastructure, including residential neighborhoods.
The latest attack underscores the continued escalation of the conflict, with both Russia and Ukraine intensifying long-range strikes. Ukraine has recently expanded attacks on military and energy-related targets inside Russia, while Moscow has maintained sustained missile and drone campaigns against Ukrainian cities. Despite repeated calls by Kyiv for peace negotiations, fighting has continued with no immediate breakthrough in sight.
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