Russia launched a large-scale overnight drone and missile assault on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, killing at least one person and injuring several others in one of the most intense attacks on the city in weeks.
The barrage struck multiple districts across the capital, triggering widespread explosions, fires, and emergency evacuations. Ukrainian authorities said rescue operations were continuing after a nine-storey residential building partially collapsed, with several people believed to be trapped beneath the rubble.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that at least 11 people were injured, including one in critical condition after an ambulance station was damaged during the strikes.
The attack came just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that intelligence reports indicated Russia was preparing a "massive" assault, prompting him to cut short an overseas visit to Dublin.
Throughout the night, Kyiv’s air defence systems lit up the sky as they intercepted waves of drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. Residents reported hearing repeated explosions as emergency crews battled multiple fires across the city.
The assault marked the first major strike on Kyiv in more than two weeks and underscored the continuing intensity of Russia’s aerial campaign against Ukraine.
Meanwhile, neighbouring Poland activated its fighter jets as a precaution to safeguard its airspace. The Polish Armed Forces described the move as a preventive measure aimed at protecting regions bordering Ukraine.
"These actions are preventive in nature and are intended to secure and protect the airspace, particularly in areas adjacent to the threatened regions," Poland’s military said in a statement.
Although no strikes were reported on Polish territory, the response highlights growing regional security concerns. As a NATO member, Poland is protected under the alliance’s collective defence principle, which considers an attack on one member as an attack on all.
Rescue efforts remain underway in Kyiv as officials assess the full extent of the damage caused by the overnight bombardment.
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