In a devastating blow early Thursday, Russian missiles and drones ravaged apartment structures in Kyiv, leaving at least 13 dead and injuring dozens more. The city’s mayor described this as the most significant assault on the Ukrainian capital to date.
Although Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, with missile and drone barrages throughout its protracted invasion lasting over four years, Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, stated that this overnight assault surpassed all previous ones in its severity.
In a somber announcement on social media, Klitschko proclaimed July 3rd as a Day of Mourning in Kyiv, paying tribute to those who perished in the unprecedented attack. Meanwhile, rescue operations continued as workers sifted through the remnants of a demolished apartment complex.
According to Klitschko, the attack resulted in at least 13 fatalities and 86 injuries.
Reporters from the Agence-France Press (AFP) witnessed more than 12 blasts in the central and eastern parts of Kyiv. Amidst the chaos, residents hurriedly sought refuge in metro stations, some accompanied by children and pets.
In the morning, locals stood on the rubble of destroyed apartment blocks, ripped open by the barrage, as smoke poured over the Kyiv skyline.
Blasts started echoing out over the Ukrainian capital late on Wednesday, lasting into the early hours of Thursday as Russian missiles and drones rained down on residential areas in the centre of the city.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had earlier warned that Russia was preparing a “massive attack” and urged citizens to take extra care.
“I urge our people to be especially careful, to protect themselves, their children, and, of course, their families; to use shelters and heed air raid alerts in Ukraine — this is very important,” he told a news conference.
He said Russian President Vladimir Putin “has been preparing this massive strike against Ukraine for some time now”.
Ukraine has also stepped up long-range drone attacks inside Russia in recent weeks, targeting energy infrastructure and military targets.
Russian officials have reported repeated strikes in border regions, while Moscow has said its air defences had intercepted hundreds of drones from Ukraine in recent days.
Russia’s defence ministry confirmed on Thursday it had launched a “massive strike” on Kyiv in what it called a retaliation to the Ukrainian counter-attacks.
Russia fired 496 drones and 74 missiles — including hard-to-intercept ballistic projectiles — Ukraine’s air force said.
It said it shot down 48 of the missiles and 476 drones.
Ukraine urges more support, Patriot license
Following the attack, Ukrainian officials sent requests for military aid to the country’s allies, with Zelenskyy asking the United States for licences to manufacture Patriot air defence missiles.
“Air defence supplies for Ukraine are an absolute and critical priority … We also very much count on a decision by the United States regarding licences for Patriots and other forms of cooperation,” Zelenskyy said in a post on Facebook on Thursday.
Ukrainian foreign minister Andriy Sybiga wrote on social media that allies must “not delay decisions on air defense for Ukraine!”
“This is our main request to our partners after Kyiv suffered a night of horror,” he wrote.