Russian drones and missiles struck Kyiv overnight, killing at least three people including an infant and setting fire to Ukraine's main government building. The attack involved 805 drones and decoys plus 13 missiles, making it the largest aerial offensive since the war began according to Ukrainian officials.
Ukraine's air defences shot down 747 drones and four missiles during the assault. Reuters witnesses saw thick smoke rising from the government building in the city's Pecherskyi district after the fire broke out.
Civilian casualties mount
The victims included a 32-year-old woman and her two-month-old son in the Sviatoshynskyi district, according to reports. A pregnant woman was among five people injured and admitted to hospital.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that an elderly woman died in a bomb shelter in the Darnytskyi district. Emergency officials reported fires breaking out on two floors of a residential building in the same area, with the structure partially destroyed.
Widespread destruction across capital
Several floors of a nine-storey residential building were partially destroyed in the western Sviatoshynskyi district. Falling drone debris sparked fires in a 16-storey apartment building and two additional nine-storey buildings.
Social media photographs showed smoke billowing from apartment buildings with partially collapsed floors and crumbled facades. "Russia was deliberately and consciously striking civilian targets," said Timur Tkachenko, head of the capital's military administration.
Attacks beyond Kyiv
Dozens of explosions rocked the central city of Kremenchuk, cutting power to some areas. Russian strikes targeted transport and urban infrastructure in Kryvyi Rih, though no injuries were reported there.
In the southern city of Odesa, civilian infrastructure and residential buildings suffered damage with fires breaking out in several apartment blocks. NATO scrambled warplanes in response to the massive attack, according to reports.
Moscow did not immediately comment on the strikes. Both Russia and Ukraine deny deliberately targeting civilians in their military operations.
Sources used: "PA Media", "Reuters", "The i", "Metro", "The Guardian", "Daily Mail", "Mirror"
Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
