Ukraine says Russian forces mounted a “massive and virtually nonstop” aerial assault on Kyiv and other major cities over two days, unleashing more than 1,500 drones and upward of 50 missiles in attacks that killed at least 24 people in the capital. The strikes, which Ukrainian officials said stretched across Wednesday and Thursday, flattened at least one apartment building and damaged or destroyed other residential blocks and civilian infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the scene of the destroyed apartment complex and offered condolences to victims’ families. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said three of those killed were children, including a 15-year-old girl. Zelenskyy called the operation a deliberate act of terror, saying Russian forces had stockpiled weapons and timed the attack to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses and cause the greatest possible harm.
Officials reported that Ukrainian defenses intercepted roughly 94% of incoming drones but only about 73% of missiles, a shortfall Zelenskyy said must be addressed. In total, authorities said about 20 separate targets in Kyiv were hit, including the apartment building, a school and a veterinary clinic. Rescue teams continued search-and-rescue operations amid rubble and damaged neighborhoods.
Other cities struck during the barrage included Odesa, Rivne, Ivano-Frankivsk and Kharkiv. Emergency services and local authorities reported damage to civilian infrastructure and ongoing casualty assessments.
Zelenskyy suggested the timing of the attack was no accident, pointing to its overlap with U.S. President Trump’s visit to China and saying Moscow appeared intent on disrupting the broader geopolitical environment. Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking to reporters after a Victory Day parade, said he thought the conflict “may be nearing its close,” comments that drew attention but did not convince Ukrainian leaders that Moscow intends to end the war.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy met with several European leaders in Bucharest to discuss steps toward ending the conflict. He also announced the return of roughly 200 Ukrainian prisoners of war as part of a larger exchange that will repatriate 1,000 Ukrainians for 1,000 Russian detainees; many of the returned Ukrainians had been held since 2022. The president thanked those involved in securing the swaps and said Ukraine would continue efforts to free all people still in captivity.
The strikes add to a long record of heavy attacks on population centers and underscore persistent threats to civilians and critical infrastructure. Ukrainian authorities and international partners are assessing the damage and coordinating humanitarian and security responses as the country braces for potential further attacks.