At least 12 people were killed and 20 injured in overnight missile and drone strikes carried out by Russia on Kyiv and the surrounding region, including six rail workers employed by Ukrzaliznytsia after a rail depot was hit in the Ukrainian capital.
In total, eight people died in Kyiv while a further four were killed in the nearby town of Boryspil, where a residential building was struck. Among those killed in Boryspil was a 26-year-old Indian national, according to Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ivan Vyhivsky.
Russian Military Claims and Weapons Used
The Russian military described the attacks as a “massive strike using high-precision weapons” targeting Ukrainian military
and energy facilities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the assault involved a “significant number of jet drones and ballistic missiles.” Russia also stated that the strikes targeted multiple locations, including eight other Ukrainian regions beyond Kyiv.
In response, Ukrainian rescue operations mobilized nearly 350 personnel working overnight to manage fires and aid victims across Kyiv and its surroundings following the strikes.
Official Responses and International Context
Ukrainian authorities confirmed the casualties and ongoing emergency efforts. President Zelensky acknowledged the scale of the attacks on social media, emphasizing the intensified aerial assault aimed at depleting Ukrainian air defenses and affecting civilian morale.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra
Modi, speaking at a security summit in Kyrgyzstan, urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the conflict, stating, “Every day spent in war pushes humanity back, and every step taken towards peace fills humanity with new hope and enthusiasm.” Modi’s appeals come amid India’s economic reliance on discounted Russian oil and its repeated calls for peace since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
Recent Related Attacks and Strategic Targets
The overnight strikes marked the sixth consecutive day of Russian attacks on Kyiv. On the previous Friday, a weapons depot attack in the Kyiv region killed 38 people and triggered detonations of shells, mines,
and drones.
Additionally, a drone strike targeted the Russian Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga, causing a fire, according to Leningrad regional Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko. Ukraine considers such strikes on Ust-Luga legitimate due to the port’s role in handling large volumes of petroleum products that help finance Moscow’s war effort.
Context of the Ongoing Conflict
These attacks are part of Russia’s military operations aimed at Ukrainian military and energy infrastructure. The Russian military indicated plans for continued “massive” strikes on Ukraine’s energy facilities over the weekend. The sustained missile and drone assault on Kyiv appears intended to exhaust Ukrainian air defenses and undermine civilian resolve.
