Russia conducted an overnight drone assault on Kyiv on July 4, injuring at least 14 people, damaging rail infrastructure, and igniting fires across multiple districts of the Ukrainian capital. The attack, which lasted over eight hours, marked one of the latest in a series of intensified strikes against the city as diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict continue to falter.

All-Night Air Assault Leaves Kyiv Reeling

Kyiv faced one of its most sustained attacks in recent weeks as Russian drones pounded the capital for more than eight hours from the evening of July 3 into the early hours of July 4. Authorities reported that 14 people were injured, with 12 requiring hospitalization. The assault damaged railway infrastructure, caused delays in train schedules, and set fire to buildings and vehicles.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko said drone debris ignited a fire at a medical facility in the Holosiivskyi district. Damage was reported in six of the city's 10 districts, both east and west of the Dnipro River. Residents described hearing long strings of explosions and continuous fire from air defense systems throughout the night.

Railways Disrupted, City Shaken

Ukraine's national railway company, Ukrzaliznytsia, confirmed that infrastructure in the city was damaged, leading to delays and diversions for passenger trains. Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said many of the targeted sites were residential areas.

"There is no end to the attacks," Tkachenko said. "We are working on Russian drones in all districts."

Political Fallout and Escalating Tensions

The attack came hours after a phone conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which ended with no progress on ending the war. The Kremlin reiterated its intent to address what it calls the “root causes” of the conflict.

Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy voiced concern over a recent U.S. decision to halt shipments of key weapons to Ukraine. He expressed hope for a direct conversation with Trump to discuss resuming arms support in the face of escalating Russian strikes.

Both Moscow and Kyiv deny targeting civilians. Nonetheless, the full-scale invasion launched by Russia in February 2022 has resulted in thousands of civilian deaths, with Ukrainians bearing the overwhelming burden.