A massive overnight missile and drone attack launched by Russia struck Kyiv in one of the deadliest assaults on the Ukrainian capital in recent months, leaving at least 13 people dead and 86 others injured as emergency crews continued searching through the rubble.
The coordinated strike targeted multiple parts of the city using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and loitering drones, triggering explosions, fires and building collapses across Kyiv.
Officials warned that the casualty toll could rise as rescue operations remain underway.
Rescue Crews Race Against Time as Survivors Are Pulled From Rubble
Emergency responders have been working around the clock to locate survivors trapped beneath collapsed residential buildings.
According to Ukrainian authorities, 34 people have been rescued, including 17 residents from a partially collapsed nine-story apartment building in the Darnytskyi district. Seven of those survivors were pulled alive directly from the rubble.
More than 70 injured people have been hospitalized, while hundreds of rescue personnel continue clearing debris at multiple impact sites.
To support the massive operation, authorities deployed nearly 500 emergency workers along with 100 specialized rescue vehicles across the city.
Residential Neighborhoods Bear the Brunt of the Attack
Although Russia said the operation targeted military-related infrastructure, Ukrainian officials reported that the majority of the damage occurred in civilian areas.
More than 20 residential buildings sustained damage, with apartment complexes in the Darnytskyi and Desnianskyi districts suffering partial collapses that trapped residents inside.
Across Kyiv, officials documented destruction at roughly 30 separate locations, including:
- Apartment buildings with severe structural damage
- An ambulance station, where several medical workers were injured
- Hotels and commercial buildings damaged by explosions and fire
- Dozens of civilian vehicles destroyed
- Administrative facilities affected by the strikes
Several neighborhoods experienced fires as debris from intercepted missiles and drones rained down over densely populated areas.
Air Defenses Intercepted Multiple Missiles, but Falling Debris Added to the Destruction
The overnight assault unfolded in multiple waves, creating intense aerial battles above the capital.
Ukraine’s air defense systems intercepted numerous incoming missiles and drones. However, officials said the interception of large ballistic and cruise missiles over populated districts generated falling debris, fuel explosions and shrapnel, contributing to widespread destruction on the ground.
The attacks reached all 10 districts of Kyiv, affecting neighborhoods on both sides of the Dnipro River.
Thousands of residents spent the night inside the city’s underground metro stations after authorities warned of an imminent large-scale attack.
Russia Says Energy and Defense Sites Were the Intended Targets
Russia’s Ministry of Defence said the strikes were aimed at Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and defense-related facilities.
Moscow described the operation as retaliation for recent Ukrainian long-range drone attacks that targeted military installations and oil infrastructure inside Russian territory.
Ukrainian officials rejected that characterization, arguing the widespread destruction demonstrated that civilian neighborhoods had been deliberately targeted.
The United Nations has repeatedly warned that the use of long-range explosive weapons in densely populated urban areas carries a high risk of civilian casualties, regardless of the stated military objectives.
Kyiv Declares a Day of Mourning
With rescue operations continuing, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko declared July 3 an official Day of Mourning for the victims of the attack.
Search teams remain at several collapsed buildings as authorities work to locate people still believed to be missing beneath the debris.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the assault as “a night of horror,” renewing calls for international partners to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense and anti-ballistic missile capabilities.
The latest strike comes as both Russia and Ukraine have intensified long-range attacks, with Kyiv continuing drone operations against military and energy targets inside Russia while Moscow increases large-scale aerial assaults on Ukrainian cities.
