An infant is among three people killed in a Russian attack on Kyiv that injured 18 others and caused fires across the capital, including a government building, Ukrainian officials reported.
Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said the overnight assault began with drones raining down, followed by missile strikes. The attacks triggered a fire at a central government building in the Pecherskyi district. Witnesses reported thick smoke rising from the site.
The drone strikes killed the infant and a young woman, while a pregnant woman was among five people hospitalized with injuries, Klitschko confirmed on the Telegram app. Earlier, he had reported that an elderly woman died in a bomb shelter in the Darnytskyi district east of the Dnipro River.
In the Sviatoshynskyi district to the west, multiple floors of a nine-story residential building were partially destroyed. Debris from the drones also sparked fires in a 16-story apartment building and two other nearby structures. Social media images shared by emergency services showed smoke rising from buildings, some with collapsed floors and damaged facades.
Timur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, accused Moscow of deliberately targeting civilian areas. “Russia is deliberately and consciously striking civilian targets,” he said on Telegram.
The attacks also affected other Ukrainian cities. In Kremenchuk, central Ukraine, dozens of explosions cut electricity to parts of the city, according to mayor Vitalii Maletskyi. In Kryvyi Rih, Russian strikes hit transport and urban infrastructure, but no injuries were reported, according to military administration head Oleksandr Vilkul.
In the southern city of Odesa, fires broke out in multiple apartment buildings after Russian strikes damaged residential and civilian infrastructure, regional governor Oleh Kiper reported.
Moscow has not immediately commented on the attacks. Both sides deny intentionally targeting civilians, yet thousands have died since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Amid the growing threat of air strikes in western Ukraine, Poland deployed national and allied aircraft to secure airspace, the Polish armed forces said.
The latest attacks underline the increasing use of drone and missile technology in the ongoing conflict. Ukrainian authorities continue to warn residents to remain vigilant, especially in densely populated areas.
As Kyiv assesses the damage and emergency teams battle fires, the civilian toll highlights the continuing human cost of the war. Local hospitals remain on high alert, treating injuries caused by falling debris and explosions.
Authorities have urged residents to stay in shelters and avoid damaged buildings, as aftershocks from drone strikes and missiles have left some structures unstable. Emergency services continue to monitor fire risks and structural damage across the capital.
The Ukrainian government also called for international attention to the deliberate targeting of civilians. Officials emphasized the need for urgent humanitarian aid and strengthened defense measures to protect residents in major cities.
With the conflict entering its third year, Russian attacks on Kyiv and other regions have intensified, affecting residential neighborhoods, government buildings, and critical infrastructure. Authorities report that prompt firefighting and rescue operations have prevented further casualties, though significant property damage remains.
Residents are urged to follow official safety instructions while local officials coordinate reconstruction efforts and support for affected families.
