Russia mercillessly pounded Ukraine’s capital with missiles and drones overnight, killing at least six people, including a 6-year-old boy, Ukrainian authorities said on Thursday. Kyiv City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko said at least 52 other people were injured in the attacks, and that the number was likely to rise.
A large part of a nine-story residential building collapsed after it was struck, Mr Tkachenko added. Rescue teams were at the scene to rescue people trapped under the rubble. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on his official Telegram account: “Missile strike. Directly on a residential building. People are under the rubble. All services are on site.” Images from the scene showed plumes of smoke pouring out of a partially damaged building and debris strewn on the ground.
At least 27 locations across Kyiv were hit by the attack, said Mr Tkachenko, with the heaviest damage seen in the Solomianskyi and Sviatoshynskyi districts.
Mr Zelensky, posting on X, added: “Since the night hours, our rescuers, firefighters, medics, and all the necessary emergency services have been working at the sites of Russian missile and drone strikes.
“The Dnipro, Poltava, Sumy, Mykolaiv, and Kyiv regions have been affected. The capital was the primary target of the massive attack.
“There is extensive damage to residential infrastructure. In one of the residential districts, an entire section of an apartment block has been destroyed.
“As of now, six people are known to have been killed, including a six-year-old boy.
“My condolences to all their families and loved ones. There are also reports of dozens of injured people, all of whom are receiving the necessary assistance.
“The Russians launched more than 300 drones and 8 missiles.
“We are doing everything possible to fully implement all the agreements for the protection of our people — to ensure that every contract serves the purpose of saving lives.
“Today, the world once again saw Russia’s response to our desire for peace, shared with America and Europe. New, showcase killings.”
Anton Geraschenko, former Ukrainian advisor to the interior minister, also shared dramatic footage showing the widespread devastation.
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said he’s giving Russian President Vladimir Putin a shorter deadline — August 8 — for peace efforts to make progress or Washington will impose punitive sanctions and tariffs.
Western leaders have accused Putin of dragging his feet in US-led peace efforts in an attempt to capture more Ukrainian land.