Stay informed with free updates
Simply sign up to the War in Ukraine myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox.
Russia has launched dozens of drones as well as several ballistic and cruise missiles on four Ukrainian cities, killing at least 14 people in Kyiv.
The cities of Kyiv, Odesa, Chernihiv as well as Zaporizhzhia were hit during the night. Several residential buildings were hit in the Ukrainian capital and parts of one high-rise entirely destroyed, footage from rescue services showed. City officials said rescue units had been deployed to 27 locations.
The death toll is the worst in the Ukrainian capital since July 2024, when a Russian missile attack had hit a children’s hospital and killed 33 people across the city. Thirteen people also died in Kyiv in a similar attack in April this year.
Russia has in recent weeks intensified the pace of its attacks, involving a mix of strike and decoy drones launched in waves as well as ballistic and cruise missiles to overwhelm Ukraine’s weakened air defences.
Ukrainian fire teams, attempting to shoot down Russian drones from truck-mounted machine guns, have also reportedly struggled to deal with more complex drones now flying at higher altitudes.
This is a developing story.
In a tragic turn of events, Russia has unleashed a devastating assault on Ukraine, targeting multiple cities with a deadly combination of drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles. The toll on human life has been staggering, with at least 14 people losing their lives in Kyiv alone.
The night brought destruction to Kyiv, Odesa, Chernihiv, and Zaporizhzhia, as residential buildings were struck and one high-rise building was completely destroyed. Rescue efforts are underway in multiple locations across the affected cities, as emergency services scramble to respond to the crisis.
The scale of the tragedy in Kyiv is reminiscent of past atrocities, with the death toll surpassing previous deadly attacks on the city. The relentless onslaught by Russia, utilizing advanced drone technology and powerful missiles, has left Ukraine struggling to defend itself against the onslaught.
As the conflict escalates, Ukrainian forces find themselves outmatched and overwhelmed by the sophistication of Russian weaponry. The challenges of combating drones flying at high altitudes and evading air defenses have pushed Ukrainian fire teams to their limits.
The unfolding events in Ukraine serve as a stark reminder of the brutal realities of war and the devastating impact it has on innocent lives. The international community watches with bated breath as the conflict continues to unfold, hoping for a swift resolution to end the senseless violence.
