Russia's Overnight Missile and Drone Assault Claims Lives and Devastates City

A Russian missile and drone barrage in Kyiv overnight Tuesday resulted in significant casualties. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported at least 15 fatalities and 75 injuries. Local officials later indicated a higher number of wounded, reaching 99. This attack marked one of the deadliest on the Ukrainian capital in recent months.

Simultaneously, Russian drone strikes targeted the southern port city of Odesa, resulting in one death and 17 injuries, according to regional administration head Oleh Kiper. In Kyiv, the attack caused extensive damage, including the destruction of a nine-story residential building and numerous apartments, as stated by Kyiv City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko. Emergency services were actively engaged in rescuing individuals from the rubble.

The Kyiv City Military Administration described the nature of the damage as direct hits on residential buildings, with rockets impacting from the upper floors to the basement. The assault, lasting nearly nine hours, represents the latest in a series of mass drone and missile attacks on Kyiv amid the ongoing war. The timing of the attack coincided with the Group of Seven meeting in Canada, which Zelenskyy was scheduled to attend.

Zelenskyy reported that Russia launched over 440 drones and 32 missiles into Ukraine. He characterized the attacks as "pure terrorism." Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed the death of a U.S. citizen due to shrapnel injuries. The attacks resulted in the destruction of thirty apartments in a single residential block. Over 2,000 personnel, including rescuers, police, municipal services, and medical professionals, were deployed to the affected areas.

One resident, Olena Lapyshniak, described the harrowing experience of the attack, which nearly destroyed her apartment building. She emphasized the absence of military infrastructure in the area and the devastating impact on civilians. The Sviatoshynskyi and Solomianskyi districts of Kyiv also reported injuries. Fires erupted in two other city districts due to debris from downed drones.

Zelenskyy was expected to hold one-on-one meetings with world leaders at the G7 summit. A meeting with President Trump was planned, but Trump departed early. Russia has intensified its attacks in recent weeks. Direct peace talks have yielded limited progress, with the exception of prisoner exchanges.

Meanwhile, Russia's security chief Sergei Shoigu visited North Korea to meet with leader Kim Jong Un.