Russia unleashed a massive overnight assault on Ukraine early Thursday, killing at least 13 people across the country, including one in the capital Kyiv, as ballistic missiles struck the city and explosions were heard throughout the capital. The attack came just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Moscow appeared to be preparing a major strike.
Ukraine's air defenses intercepted a significant number of incoming missiles, but the scale of the barrage was severe. President Zelenskyy reported that Russia launched over 70 missiles and more than 280 drones at Ukraine during the night. In Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko urged residents to take shelter as blasts rocked the city, and later confirmed that a missile struck the home of a large family, with rescue crews searching through the rubble. The death toll could rise, he said on Telegram, describing the night as «dark».
In the Dnipropetrovsk and Poltava regions, six people were killed, including two children. Ukrainian officials stated that one person was killed and two injured in Kyiv. The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that Russia was targeting the capital with ballistic missiles, a weapon that is particularly difficult to intercept due to its high speed and trajectory.
Zelenskyy had earlier taken to social media to alert the nation and international partners. «I received a report from Air Force Commander Anatolii Kryvonozhko,» he wrote on X on Wednesday, stating that Russia had prepared a «massive attack several days ago» and that there was a «high probability» it would be carried out overnight. He stressed the urgent need for more air defense systems, particularly Patriot missiles, and called on partners, especially the United States, to provide them. «It is important that our partners fully understand what is happening and that the protection of lives directly depends on their readiness, or lack thereof, to help us with air defense missiles,» Zelenskyy said.
The attack prompted Poland, a NATO member, to scramble fighter jets to protect its airspace in response to the nearby Russian strikes. This measure is a routine but significant show of vigilance along NATO's eastern flank. The incident also underscored the ongoing vulnerability of Ukraine's civilian population to relentless Russian aerial bombardment, even as Kyiv's forces continue to defend against the invasion.
Zelenskyy made his appeal for air defense missiles after returning from a trip to the United States, where he met with President Donald Trump. Trump recently announced at a NATO summit in Turkey that the United States would license Ukraine to manufacture Patriot air defense systems, a move that could eventually bolster Ukraine's capabilities. However, the immediate need remains critical. «First and foremost, this concerns the United States and those partners that have Patriot missiles and can provide them to support our defense,» Zelenskyy wrote. «Every partner knows what is needed and fully understands the consequences of marking time.»
The attack early Thursday was one of the largest in recent weeks, with over 70 missiles and hundreds of drones used in a coordinated strike. Ukrainian air defenses managed to shoot down many of them, but debris and intercepted missiles still caused casualties and damage. The assault came amid a broader pattern of Russia intensifying its bombardment of Ukrainian energy infrastructure and cities as winter approaches.
The international community has condemned the ongoing strikes. The European Union and NATO have reiterated their support for Ukraine, but the pace of military aid has slowed in some allied nations. Zelenskyy's warning and the subsequent attack highlight the critical importance of timely deliveries of advanced air defense systems to protect civilian lives.
As rescue operations continued in Kyiv and other affected regions, authorities worked to assess the full extent of the damage. The night of violence serves as a grim reminder of the war's toll and the urgency of sustained support for Ukraine's defense.
