A massive overnight drone and missile attack by Russia on Ukraine’s capital, Kiev, has left at least one person dead and multiple civilian structures in ruins, including a school, shop, and subway station. As Ukraine’s air force reports over 426 drones and 24 missiles launched, this latest strike underscores the intensifying Russian assault on cities far from the front lines. The attack comes just days after President Zelensky proposed renewed peace talks and amid U.S. pressure on Russia to negotiate. This article details the devastation, civilian trauma, and geopolitical implications of another sleepless night in Kiev.
Another Night of Terror in Kiev
Kiev, Ukraine – Ukraine’s capital city endured yet another harrowing night as Russian forces launched a large-scale combined assault involving both drones and missiles, leaving one civilian dead and several structures severely damaged. The attack, which lit up the night sky with explosions and the chilling buzz of drones, marked a continued escalation in Russia’s long-range strikes on cities far from the frontlines of the ongoing war.
According to Ukraine’s air force, Russia unleashed 426 drones and 24 missiles overnight across multiple Ukrainian regions. Of these, 23 drones reportedly hit their intended targets. Though Ukrainian air defense units managed to intercept many projectiles, several still penetrated the defenses, igniting fires and damaging critical infrastructure.
In Kiev, the destruction was stark. A shop and a school caught fire, while a kindergarten, subway station, commercial buildings, and residential houses sustained serious damage. The city’s mayor confirmed the extent of the devastation, noting that a subway station in central Kiev was among the affected sites. Emergency responders and firefighters were seen clearing debris from a damaged residential building the following morning, highlighting the intensity of the Russian onslaught.
This latest barrage represents a disturbing pattern of intensifying Russian attacks. In recent weeks, Moscow has increased the frequency and scale of long-range strikes, using drones and ballistic missiles to target cities located far from the immediate war zones. Russia maintains that its operations are focused solely on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and denies deliberately targeting civilian areas.
However, the lived experience of residents in cities like Kiev paints a different picture. Amid blaring sirens and distant rumbling of explosions, many citizens spent the night huddled in underground shelters and subway stations. One Kiev resident recalled the surreal trauma of the situation, saying, “Before, when the TU-95 bombers took off, they did not always target Kiev. We used to sit here until 5 a.m., then go home and sleep. Now, it is no longer okay. Every single attack brings casualties. Imagine walking down the street and seeing someone get shot right in front of you. That fear stays with you.”
This devastating night of violence came just days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that Kiev had extended a new proposal for peace talks to Moscow. The Kremlin responded by reiterating its readiness to engage in negotiations. This diplomatic overture follows mounting international pressure, particularly from the United States. Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to Moscow, giving Russia 50 days to reach a peace agreement with Ukraine or face intensified sanctions.
Despite these diplomatic developments, the reality on the ground remains grim. The scale of last night’s attacks, described by Ukrainian officials as a “massive missile and drone assault,” underscores the fragility of peace prospects and the growing risks to civilian lives and infrastructure in Ukrainian cities.
As the war drags on with no clear end in sight, the people of Kiev, and indeed of Ukraine, continue to endure sleepless nights and ever-deepening trauma, caught in the crossfire of a brutal and unrelenting conflict.