Four people died and over 80 were left injured in Ukraine after Russia pummeled Kyiv with missiles and drones in overnight attacks. Air raid sirens blared through the night into Sunday as smoke billowed across the city from the strikes. Damage was recorded in 40 locations across several districts of the city, including residential buildings, Kyiv military administration head Tymur Tkachenko said in a Telegram post.
Zelensky Condemns Attack
Russia also launched a nuclear-capable Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic missile as part of the massive overnight strikes, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday. 'Three Russian missiles against a water supply facility, a market burnt down, dozens of residential buildings damaged, several ordinary schools, and he (Vladimir Putin) launched his 'Oreshnik' against Bila Tserkva. They are genuinely deranged,' Zelensky said on Telegram.
Ukrainian air defences intercepted 549 of the 600 drones and 55 of the 90 missiles, the air force said. On Sunday morning, Zelensky took to X to share a statement following the attack. 'Since last night, first responders and all necessary services have been working wherever needed. As of now, at least 83 people have been confirmed injured since midnight. Tragically, there are fatalities. My condolences to the families and loved ones.'
Details of the Attack
'It was a heavy attack – 90 missiles of various types, many of them ballistic missiles – 36 in total. There were 600 drones. Unfortunately, not all of the ballistic missiles were intercepted – the largest number of hits was in Kyiv. Kyiv was the primary target of this Russian attack. Putin can't even pronounce the word 'hurrah' clearly anymore – slurs and mumbles – yet he is still vanquishing residential buildings with his missiles.'
Zelensky added: 'Launched three Russian missiles against a water supply facility. Burned down a market. Damaged dozens of residential buildings. Hit several ordinary schools. Launched his 'Oreshnik' against Bila Tserkva. They really are unhinged. It is important that this does not pass without consequences for Russia. Today, everyone in the world who will not stay silent and chooses to help Ukraine is a defender of life. It is critically important to continue working to secure air defense for Ukraine, especially anti-ballistic capabilities.'
Eyewitness Accounts
Kyiv resident Svitlana Onofryichuk, 55, said: 'It was a terrible night, and there had never been anything like it in the entire war. I am very sorry that I have to say goodbye to Kyiv now, I am not staying there anymore, there is no possibility. My job is gone, everything is gone, everything has burned down.' Yevhen Zosin, 74, a city resident who witnessed the attack, said the moment he heard an explosion he rushed to save his dog. 'Then there was another explosion and she and I were thrown back like a pin by the shock wave. We both survived, she and I. My apartment was blown to pieces,' he said.
In Kyiv's Shevchenko district, a five-storey residential building was hit, which caused a fire, and one person was killed, Ukraine's state emergency service reported. A school building was damaged by an attack while people sheltered inside, Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said. Local authorities reported supermarkets and warehouses across the city were also damaged.
Oreshnik Missile
Earlier, Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia had been planning to use the hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile, citing intelligence from the US and Western partners. Ukraine's Air Force later warned of a possible launch of the Oreshnik. Russia first used the multiple-warhead Oreshnik on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro in November 2024. It was used a second time in January in the western Lviv region. President Vladimir Putin said the Oreshnik, which means 'hazelnut tree' in Russian, streaks at 10 times the speed of sound, or Mach 10, and is capable of destroying underground bunkers 'three, four or more floors down'. The weapon travels 'like a meteorite' and is immune to any missile defence system, Mr Putin said, adding that several such missiles, even fitted with conventional warheads, could be as devastating as a nuclear strike.
The United Nations said on Friday it 'strongly condemns any attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, wherever they occur', adding it could not verify details due to restricted access to the area. Kyiv has recently expanded its drone capabilities and stepped up strikes on undisputed Russian territory, including residential areas and oil export infrastructure. Moscow has launched mass barrages of missiles and drones at Ukraine almost daily since invading the country in 2022, also hitting infrastructure and causing civilian deaths. It denies targeting civilians. US-led efforts to negotiate an end to more than four years of war have slowed in recent months, with Washington's attention diverted towards its conflict in the Middle East.
