KYIV: Russia launched its largest ever barrage on Kyiv early on Thursday, tearing through apartment buildings, setting off fires and killing at least 13 people, Ukrainian officials said.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said 86 others were wounded in what he described as the “enemy’s most massive attack on the capital”. The strikes hit residential areas across the city, with apartment blocks ripped apart and smoke rising over the Ukrainian capital by morning.
Russia has repeatedly launched waves of missiles and drones at Ukrainian cities during its more than four-year invasion, which has become Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. However, Ukrainian officials said Thursday’s assault was among the heaviest attacks Kyiv has faced since the war began.
Ukraine’s air force said Russia fired 496 drones and 74 missiles, including hard-to-intercept ballistic projectiles. It said Ukrainian air defences shot down 476 drones and 48 missiles.
In the eastern Darnytskyi district, 32-year-old factory worker Sabina Mambetova stood outside the rubble of her home.
“Half the building has been destroyed. The roof is gone,” she said. “I’ve been left without an apartment, alone with my child. I don’t know what to do now.”
Zelensky seeks air defence support
The attack came hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cut short a visit to Dublin, citing intelligence reports that Russia was preparing a large-scale strike.
“I urge our people to be especially careful, to protect themselves, their children and their families; to use shelters and heed air raid alerts,” Zelensky said.
After the assault, he called air defence supplies an “absolute and critical priority” and said Ukraine was counting on a United States decision regarding licences to manufacture Patriot air defence missiles.
Russia’s defence ministry confirmed it had launched a “massive strike” on Kyiv, calling it retaliation for Ukrainian attacks inside Russia.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she would propose new sanctions on entities supporting Russia’s military-industrial complex.
“We keep raising the cost until Russia understands it cannot win,” she said.
