Russia Launches Massive Missile and Drone Assault on Kyiv, Ukraine Says

Russia launched one of the largest ballistic missile attacks of its four-year war against Ukraine overnight into Sunday, carrying out what Ukrainian authorities described as a massive combined assault using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and attack drones. According to Ukraine’s Air Force, the primary target of the strike was the capital, Kyiv. Acting Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said Russia fired around four dozen missiles, calling it the largest deployment of ballistic missiles since the war began.

Ukraine’s Air Force said its air defense systems intercepted 126 aerial targets, including 18 missiles and 108 unmanned aerial vehicles. The State Emergency Service reported that strikes hit five districts of Kyiv, while images released from the capital showed a large crater and extensive damage to residential and commercial buildings, with scorched building facades highlighting the scale of the attack.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said strengthening protection against ballistic missiles remains Ukraine’s highest security priority. He stressed the need for additional interceptor systems, thanking partner countries that continue to honor their commitments to provide anti-ballistic defense capabilities, and called for sustained international support to help protect Ukrainian cities from future missile attacks.