Russian Missile Strike Kills 25 in Kyiv, Causes Widespread Destruction

The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine escalated with a severe Russian missile attack on Kyiv during the night between Wednesday and Thursday. According to European media reports, this assault involved the largest number of weapons ever launched at the Ukrainian capital, hitting extensive areas across the city.

Nearly 20 hours after the strike, the full extent of the damage and casualties began to emerge. At least 25 people have been confirmed dead and over 85 injured. Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, stated that an ambulance station was among the sites hit and described the attack as the "most massive" on Kyiv since the war began, despite previous attacks causing higher fatalities. Several neighborhoods were evacuated amid ongoing strikes, shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned of an impending Russian offensive.

Timur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, reported that children were among the many victims, condemning the enemy for deliberately targeting residential areas and killing civilians. Kyiv metro authorities said 52,500 people, including 4,500 children, sought shelter in underground stations overnight, marking the highest number in recent years.

British media detailed the destruction caused by the missiles, including a large crater near a kindergarten and the collapse of a nine-story residential building. Locals told the BBC that several people remain missing, possibly trapped in basements. The attack underscores the continuing intensity of the Russia-Ukraine war and its toll on civilian populations in Kyiv.