Russia Launches Major Drone and Missile Attack on Kyiv, Injuring 11

Early Friday, Russian forces conducted a large-scale drone and missile attack on Kyiv, injuring at least 11 people and causing extensive damage across several districts, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Five individuals were hospitalized, including a man in critical condition and a pregnant woman. The assault led to explosions and fires throughout the city, with air defenses activated in response.

City officials have urged residents to remain in shelters until the air raid alert is lifted and have cautioned about possible power and water outages. In the Darnytskyi district, debris landed in the yard of a residential building and on the grounds of an educational facility, igniting a car. The Dniprovskyi district saw damage to three apartment buildings and a private household, along with a fire in an open area. In the Podilskyi district, five residential buildings and a nonresidential structure were damaged. Additional fires caused by falling debris were reported in other parts of the city.

In the broader Kyiv region, Russian strikes damaged critical infrastructure and private homes, injuring at least one civilian, as reported by regional head Mykola Kalashnyk. A 55-year-old man in Bila Tserkva suffered thermal burns and was hospitalized. Fires also broke out in private houses in the capital's suburbs.

This attack coincides with European Union officials urging Ukraine to intensify anti-corruption efforts following a significant graft scandal involving top nuclear energy officials. Despite these concerns, EU representatives have assured continued aid to Ukraine as it confronts ongoing Russian aggression.