Ukraine’s capital Kyiv endured one of the heaviest overnight attacks in months, with a combined wave of Russian missiles and drones that killed at least eight people and wounded scores, Ukrainian officials confirmed on Thursday. Explosions rocked multiple districts, setting residential buildings ablaze and leaving rescue teams scrambling to pull survivors from rubble.

Strikes Across Kyiv

The assault destroyed a five-storey apartment block in the Darnytskyi district. “Everything is destroyed,” said Tymur Tkachenko, head of the city’s military administration. Another strike left central Kyiv littered with shattered glass. Mayor Vitali Klitschko described it as a “massive attack.”

Photos and videos shared online showed high-rise apartments engulfed in flames as smoke billowed over the city skyline. Rescue services reported over 20 affected sites.

Political Context and Zelenskyy’s Response

The bombardment marked the first major strike on Kyiv since U.S. President Donald Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska earlier this month to discuss peace efforts. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strikes showed Moscow’s contempt for diplomacy.

“Russia chooses ballistics instead of the negotiating table. It chooses to continue killing instead of ending the war,” Zelenskyy said, calling for new sanctions and specifically urging China and Hungary to react. He added: “The death of children should definitely stir far greater emotions than anything else.”

Russia Reports Drone Strikes in Return

Moscow’s Defence Ministry said Ukrainian drones targeted at least seven Russian regions overnight, claiming air defences downed over 100 drones. Ukrainian officials said two oil refineries — Afipsky in Krasnodar and Kuybyshevskyi in Samara — were hit.

The strikes underscore how efforts at U.S.-brokered negotiations remain overshadowed by intensifying attacks, with both Kyiv and Moscow trading accusations of rejecting diplomacy.