At least 27 dead as Russia launches massive drone and missile attack on Kyiv

At least 27 people died and many more were injured overnight in Kyiv. The city's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, described it as the worst Russian attack on the capital during the war in Ukraine, which has lasted over four years.

Russia used almost 500 drones and over 70 missiles in an attack that lasted for hours on Kyiv and other areas of Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday. Loud explosions could be heard for several hours as groups of drones and missiles were sent towards the city. Ukraine's air defence systems tried to shoot them down.

When morning came, fires could be seen across Kyiv. Buildings where people lived, and a hotel in the city centre, were hit by the strikes or falling debris. In one neighbourhood, a large part of a nine-story apartment building was destroyed, leaving behind a pile of rubble. Throughout the day, rescue workers searched the remains of the building, hoping to find people alive.

The number of people killed increased during the day and may rise further. Around 70 people were taken to hospital, and rescuers continued their search in the destroyed areas.

Russia frequently launches combined missile and drone attacks on Kyiv. There had been warnings for some days that another large attack might happen. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Ukrainians on Wednesday to be extra careful and use shelters, saying it was very important.

City officials reported that over 50,000 people took shelter in Kyiv's metro stations overnight, following the warnings. Some people brought beds and tents to try and sleep underground. The platforms in some stations were so full there was no space left as hundreds of people settled in for the night.

Oleksandra Voloshyna, a medical student, explained that while people are used to noisy nights, they are getting worse. She decided it might be safer not to stay at home for the first time in years. She slept in a central metro station.

President Zelenskyy, who returned early from a trip to Ireland, visited one of the attack sites in Kyiv on Thursday afternoon. He said that if allies had provided Ukraine with the air defence missiles they had agreed to, the damage would not have been so severe. He stated that Ukraine is fighting alone and the victims are only Ukrainians.

Many residents in Kyiv have been paying close attention to the strikes recently due to the seriousness of the latest large attacks. In late May, Russia warned foreign diplomats to leave the city, saying it planned to increase its strikes on important centres there.

During Thursday's attack, Poland, a member of Nato and the EU, sent fighter jets into the air as a precaution. Finland's defence forces also reported briefly creating a temporary restricted zone for aircraft in the eastern Gulf of Finland.

In recent weeks, Ukraine has increased its attacks using long-range drones on oil refineries in Russia. This has caused fuel shortages across Russia. Several Russian regions have introduced limits on petrol sales. In Crimea, which Russia took control of in 2014, Russian authorities have declared a state of emergency.

Ukrainian officials stated their intention to continue putting pressure on Crimea, which is a key supply point for Russia's military actions in southeastern Ukraine. On Thursday morning, the governor of Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region reported that one person had died in a drone strike on industrial sites there.

The Russian defence ministry claimed it used weapons launched from air, land, and sea in its attacks on Ukraine on Thursday. They said it was a response to Ukrainian strikes. Moscow stated its targets were military and energy facilities, and that the attacks also hit several regions outside the capital.

Ukraine's foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, who was in Japan, said on Thursday that it was wrong to claim the strikes were retaliation for Ukraine's attacks on Russia. He wrote on X that in this war, there is an aggressor and a country defending itself. He added that Russia has no right to strike Ukraine, while Ukraine has every right to defend itself and strike legitimate military targets in Russia.

He repeated Kyiv's urgent request for allies to supply more air defence systems, noting that the capital had experienced a horrific night. The UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, said the attacks were a clear reminder that while Ukraine seeks peace, Russia's leader continues to cause suffering and violence.

A peace process supported by the US has slowed down in recent months. President Putin has shown little interest in giving up his goals in Ukraine, and the US has focused more on events in the Middle East.

On Thursday, President Zelenskyy mentioned that his national security council secretary had spoken with US negotiator Jared Kushner about restarting the peace process. Zelenskyy also expressed hope to meet with the US president, Donald Trump, at a Nato summit in Turkey next week.

As a result of the attacks, Friday has been declared a day of mourning in Kyiv, Mayor Klitschko announced.