Three Killed, Dozens Wounded as Overnight Russian Drone Barrage Slams Kyiv

An overnight Russian attack on Ukraine’s capital killed at least three people and wounded dozens, including several children, after waves of Shahed-type drones ignited fires and ripped through residential high-rises, city officials said.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that the strikes sparked a major blaze in a nine-storey building in the Desnianskyi district and caused severe damage to other apartment blocks.

Emergency crews pulled residents from upper floors as debris and shattered glass littered courtyards. Authorities said at least six to seven children were among the injured, with multiple people hospitalised.

Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched more than a hundred strike drones through the night, the bulk of them aimed at Kyiv and surrounding regions.

Air defences intercepted most of the drones, but several penetrated, triggering explosions and fires in densely populated neighbourhoods.

The capital’s military administration said damage assessments were ongoing as firefighters worked through the morning to extinguish hotspots and search for survivors.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the assault and urged tighter sanctions and more air-defence support, noting that Russia has intensified its use of drones and guided bombs in recent days.

Transport links in parts of the city were temporarily disrupted, and local utilities warned of possible rolling outages as crews repaired affected infrastructure.

The overnight barrage follows a string of large-scale strikes on Ukrainian cities this month, underscoring the persistent threat to civilians even as Ukraine’s air-defence network grows more capable.

Officials warned residents to heed shelter alerts, citing continued risks from falling debris and secondary fires after interceptions.

Sources: Reuters; Al Jazeera; The Guardian; The Moscow Times; Kyiv Post.