Russia Launches Massive Drone and Missile Strikes on Kyiv and Other Regions

Russia unleashed one of its most sustained attacks on Ukraine’s capital since the start of the full-scale war, firing hundreds of drones and missiles at Kyiv and other regions early Sunday. At least four people were killed and dozens injured.

Neighboring Poland shut airspace near two southeastern cities and scrambled fighter jets until the threat had passed.

According to Ukraine’s military, Russia launched 595 drones and 48 missiles overnight. Air defenses intercepted 568 drones and 43 missiles, with Kyiv the primary target.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said the barrage, which lasted more than 12 hours, damaged a cardiology clinic, factories, and residential buildings.

Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed it had carried out a “massive” strike using long-range air- and sea-launched weapons as well as drones, claiming the attacks targeted military infrastructure including airfields. Moscow has repeatedly denied targeting civilians, despite thousands of deaths and widespread destruction in residential areas.

Zelensky presses for international action
Zelensky once again appealed to international partners to take decisive steps to block Russia’s energy revenues, which he said are financing the war. So far, Kyiv has been unable to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump to impose punitive sanctions on Moscow.

“The time for decisive action passed long ago,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram. “We expect a strong response from the United States, Europe, the G7 and the G20.”

Morning in Kyiv unfolded to the sound of explosions, buzzing drones overhead, and heavy anti-aircraft fire. By the time the air raid alert lifted at 9:13 a.m. (06:13 GMT), nearly seven hours after the strikes began, smoke still rose over parts of the city.

Reuters reporters visiting a Kyiv suburb saw rows of newly built houses nearly obliterated and cars flattened by falling debris. Blasts had blown out windows in an apartment block, leaving residents peering through rubble. Some fled to underground metro stations, tracking events on their phones.

Ukraine’s air defenses under strain
The scale of the assault has further strained Ukraine’s limited air defense resources in 2025. On Saturday, Zelensky announced the deployment of an additional Patriot missile system supplied by Israel, with hopes of receiving two more in the autumn.

Officials continue to press for more support from international partners, but advanced systems remain scarce as other countries also look to bolster their defenses against potential Russian threats.

Zelensky said the strikes also hit other regions, including the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, where authorities reported at least 16 people injured.

Emergency services confirmed at least four fatalities nationwide, while local officials reported 67 wounded. Among the dead was a 12-year-old girl, according to Kyiv’s military administration chief Taimur Takachenko, though her death has not yet been officially confirmed.