Russia fires over 40 ballistic missiles at Kyiv in one of war's largest attacks, killing at least 1 and injuring 16

The overnight assault

At around 1:30 am on Sunday, Russian forces began firing volleys of ballistic missiles at central Kyiv. The barrage lasted approximately one hour, with multiple districts hit simultaneously. President Volodymyr Zelensky described it as "one of the most massive ballistic attacks on Kyiv" since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. According to the Ukrainian air force, Russia deployed a total of 125 drones, 25 ballistic missiles, 10 hypersonic Zirkon missiles, and six other missiles. Most were aimed at the capital. At least one person was killed and between 8 and 16 injured, depending on the source, with fires breaking out in residential buildings, a supermarket, and a dormitory.

The enemy fired over 40 missiles of various types, most of them directed at the capital, as well as 120 attack drones.

Damage across the capital

Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported strikes and damage in at least four districts: Shevchenkivskyi, Svyatoshynskyi, Desnyanskyi, and Dnipro. The Lukyanivka neighborhood in the northwest, a frequent target, was again at the epicenter. A metro station and the Kyivska Rus cinema were seriously damaged. A company producing protective equipment for soldiers said its production facility was completely destroyed, and one of the country's largest logistics centers was also hit. Resident Eleonora Belei, whose apartment windows were shattered, called it the most terrifying night of her life.

The neighborhood has been attacked almost every month this year, but this is the first time it was this close.

Another resident, Oleksandr Vasylevskiy, described two successive strikes: first the building shook, then silence, then a huge explosion.

During the first attack the building shook. Then it was quiet for a while. And then came the second strike: a huge explosion.

Rescue workers were still clearing debris on Sunday morning.

Air defense shortfall

Ukraine's air defenses registered 23 missile impacts and 10 drone impacts, with a large portion of the incoming objects destroyed. However, the BBC noted that less than half of the missiles were intercepted. Kyiv has repeatedly warned of a shortage of interceptor missiles for its US-made Patriot systems, which are critical against ballistic threats. Zelensky stressed that protection against ballistic missiles is now a constant top priority and that interceptor missiles are needed every day. Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha urged EU states to adopt the 21st sanctions package against Russia, which has been under negotiation in Brussels for weeks.

We need crushing pressure on Moscow to put an end to this terror.

Russian claims and wider strikes

Russia's defense ministry stated that the targets in Kyiv included a large postal logistics center storing weapon components, several enterprises producing rocket components, and a center for the storage and distribution of elements for long-range drone production. These claims could not be independently verified. The ministry also reported strikes on port infrastructure near Odessa, hitting military storage facilities and fuel depots used by Ukrainian forces. In the Kharkiv region, officials reported three dead and 16 injured from separate Russian attacks.

Escalation context

The attack came one day after Ukraine struck two logistics centers near Moscow, killing seven people according to Russian authorities. Zelensky said those facilities were used for drone component deliveries. Russia has been bombarding Ukrainian cities almost daily for over four years, while Ukraine has recently intensified its own drone strikes on Russian territory. Zelensky said that in the past week alone, Russia had used approximately 1,450 drones, more than 1,640 glide bombs, and 99 missiles and cruise missiles against Ukraine.