Asger Risom
After days of Ukrainian drone raids deep into Russian territory, Moscow hits back with a sweeping assault on Kyiv—leaving deaths, injuries, and widespread destruction.
For Kyiv residents, the night offered little warning. Sirens blared in the early hours, followed by thunderous explosions across the city. What followed was one of the deadliest air assaults on the Ukrainian capital in recent months—signaling a sharpened response from Moscow.
The attack came just days after Ukrainian forces reportedly destroyed multiple Russian strategic bombers in long-range drone strikes. While Ukraine hailed the operation as a show of capability, Russia’s answer was swift and brutal.
High Casualties After Coordinated Strike
According to HotNews.ro, Russia launched a coordinated attack on Kyiv using Kalibr cruise missiles and Shahed drones, killing four civilians and injuring at least 20 more.
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed the damage, noting that 16 of the injured were hospitalized. In the Solomianskyi district, a drone slammed into a residential apartment building, leaving part of the structure gutted.
A residential high-rise was left with a large hole in the wall after a Russian drone slammed into it, scattering concrete debris across the street.
Journalists from Reuters, who were present on the ground, captured some of the immediate chaos.
Some residents took shelter in metro stations or underground parking lots as the blasts shook windows blocks away.
The city’s transit system was also hit. The local military administration said a subway train was damaged between stations, causing widespread disruptions.
The subway system was disrupted after a train was struck and damaged between stations.
A Clear Message from Moscow
This assault came just days after Ukraine’s “Operation Spiderweb,” which used drones to destroy part of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet. Russian President Vladimir Putin, via messaging relayed by Donald Trump, warned of an impending response.
Military analysts say this wave of strikes was likely Moscow’s answer.
While Ukrainian air defenses intercepted many of the incoming threats, the damage on the ground shows how vulnerable cities remain to high-volume saturation attacks.
Whether this marks the beginning of a broader Russian counteroffensive—or simply a warning shot—remains to be seen. But Kyiv is once again bracing for more.