Kyiv hit by deadly Russian airstrikes
Kyiv was rocked by powerful explosions amid a heavy missile and drone barrage launched by Russia. The assault, which began around 1 a.m. as air raid sirens wailed through the city, followed a stark warning from President Vladimir Putin—transmitted via a conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin—that Russia would retaliate after Ukrainian drone strikes had previously destroyed several Russian strategic bombers on the ground.
During the attack, Kyiv's air defense systems engaged incoming threats, though debris from intercepted missiles and drones fell across multiple districts, including Solomianskyi and Obolon. The barrage inflicted considerable damage: a 16-story residential building and a metal warehouse were engulfed in flames, metro infrastructure was impacted, and thousands were left without electricity. In all, at least four civilians died, including three emergency responders who perished while aiding others, while 20 people sustained injuries, with 16 hospitalizations. Witnesses reported explosions so powerful that they shattered windows at distances far from the blast centers.
This dramatic development was seen as a direct response to Ukraine’s recent Operation Spiderweb—a covert operation involving quadcopter drones concealed in wooden sheds, which successfully attacked Russian air bases and destroyed some of Russia’s key bomber assets. In reaction to these losses, the Kremlin planned a counterstrike, a stance confirmed following a private exchange between Trump and Putin.
The offensive was not confined to Kyiv; it extended to at least six other Ukrainian regions, including Chernihiv, Ternopil, Poltava, Khmelnytskyi, and Lviv. In Ternopil alone, the attack caused injuries to 10 people and disruptions in power and water supplies. With airstrikes continuing, the U.S. embassy in Ukraine issued cautions, urging citizens to remain on high alert and seek shelter during air raid alerts, underscoring the heightened risk of expanded hostilities in the region.
