KYIV, Ukraine || 02 July— Russia launched a large-scale overnight missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s capital early Thursday, killing at least 11 people and injuring 54 others, including two children, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said the assault damaged 20 residential buildings across Kyiv, while Kyiv City Military Administration chief Tymur Tkachenko reported damage at around 30 locations, primarily affecting residential neighborhoods and civilian infrastructure. Rescue operations remained underway, raising concerns that the death toll could increase.
The attack involved ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones, triggering explosions across the capital for several hours. Authorities issued air raid alerts, prompting many residents to seek shelter in metro stations.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called on international partners to strengthen the country’s air defense capabilities, urging allies to accelerate deliveries of air defense systems and interceptor missiles. He described the assault as a “night of horror” and said rescue teams were continuing search operations.
Sybiha also rejected suggestions that the strikes were retaliation for Ukraine’s long-range attacks inside Russia, stating that Ukraine was acting in self-defense under Article 51 of the U.N. Charter while describing Russia as the aggressor.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko urged residents to remain in shelters during what he described as a continuing “furious enemy attack.” He said a paramedic was among those critically injured in the Shevchenkivskyi district, where a hotel and two five-story residential buildings sustained damage.
In the Desnianskyi district, emergency responders worked to rescue residents trapped inside a damaged nine-story apartment building. A residential building in the district was reported to have been partially destroyed.
The State Emergency Service reported a fire on the roof of a 16-story building in the Holosiivskyi district. In the Sviatoshynskyi district, fires broke out in two private homes, with debris trapping residents in one of the buildings.
In the Darnytskyi district, six floors of a nine-story residential building collapsed following the strike, while another five-story apartment building and a 16-story residential building were also damaged, along with several private homes.
Authorities also recorded fires near residential buildings in the Pecherskyi district and near an administrative building in the Solomianskyi district. Additional damage was reported in the Obolonskyi and Podilskyi districts.
Outside the capital, Kyiv Regional Administration head Mykola Kalashnyk said damage was recorded in five districts of the surrounding region. Three people were injured in the Bucha district.
The latest attack comes amid an intensification of Russian strikes on Kyiv in recent weeks, as Ukraine continues its long-range drone operations targeting Russian military and energy infrastructure.
