Night-time barrage on residential districts

A pre-dawn barrage of drones and missiles slammed into Kyiv on Friday, in what Ukrainian officials say was one of Russia’s largest attacks on the capital in months. Kyiv’s military administration reported at least four people killed after debris and explosions hit residential neighbourhoods, with dozens more injured as fires tore through apartment blocks and parked cars. Sirens sounded for hours as air defences tried to track waves of incoming drones, forcing residents back into shelters just as they had begun to hope for quieter nights. Emergency crews spent the morning combing damaged buildings for survivors and clearing shattered glass from courtyards and playgrounds.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia used hundreds of drones and at least a dozen missiles across Ukraine in the overnight assault, describing the strike as an attempt to “terrorise cities into submission” ahead of winter. Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said some missiles were shot down over the city, but falling debris still ignited fires on multiple floors of high-rise blocks. Images from the scene showed gaping holes in walls, charred balconies and residents wrapped in blankets watching from the street as firefighters battled smouldering roofs. Local authorities set up temporary heating points and offered psychological support for families forced from their homes.

Wider escalation and pressure on Ukraine’s air defences

The attack on Kyiv came amid a broader uptick in strikes across Ukraine, with energy facilities, industrial sites and transport hubs also targeted. Military officials warned that Russia appears to be testing Ukraine’s air defences ahead of another campaign against the power grid, similar to the rolling blackouts seen in previous winters. Zelenskyy renewed appeals to Western allies for more air defence systems and ammunition, saying Ukraine’s ability to keep the lights on now depends on how quickly promised supplies arrive. He also argued that sustained attacks far from the frontline show Moscow has little interest in ceasefire talks.

Neighbouring countries condemned the strike, with European governments reiterating pledges of long-term military and financial support for Kyiv. NATO officials said they were monitoring the situation closely, warning that Russia’s use of large numbers of drones underscores how cheaper, mass-produced weapons are reshaping the war. For residents of Kyiv, however, the focus remains immediate and personal: boarding up broken windows, moving beds away from exterior walls, and rehearsing where to run when the next siren sounds. Many say they are exhausted but determined to stay, insisting that leaving the capital now would feel like handing Moscow a victory it has not won on the battlefield.