PHOTO: First images of horrific Russian retaliation, Kyiv bombarded with projectiles, Zircons used: Dead and wounded

Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities endured one of the most extensive aerial assaults of the war overnight, as Russia unleashed a barrage of cruise and ballistic missiles, along with attack drones.

The attack commenced around 9:40 p.m. with drones approaching from multiple directions, escalating in the early morning hours with ballistic missiles, including the hypersonic "Zircon." According to Kyiv's military administration, the strikes killed two people and injured at least 20, including civilians and emergency responders. A building housing emergency services in the Shevchenkivskyi district was damaged, with five medics wounded, one critically. A nine-story residential building in Desnianskyi district collapsed, and rescuers were searching for survivors.

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Two people were killed and at least 20 people were injured in the attack. Civilians and emergency services personnel were injured.

This offensive followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's warning earlier in the day about intelligence indicating Russia's preparations for a new, large-scale attack. The assault caused fires in residential buildings, damaged a hotel in the city center, and impacted over 28 locations, primarily residential structures and civilian infrastructure. Kyiv residents sought refuge in underground metro stations, some bringing tents, children, and pets.

Analysts suggest Russia is increasingly resorting to massive air attacks to compensate for battlefield setbacks, particularly after successful Ukrainian drone strikes on Moscow and Russian logistical targets in Crimea during June. Russian President Vladimir Putin had vowed retaliation. The article notes that Russian attacks have increasingly targeted not only civilian infrastructure but also cultural landmarks in recent months. Residents described the fear of living under constant threat, with one 25-year-old resident stating she had taken shelter in the metro for the first time since the war began four years ago, acknowledging the ever-present danger.

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We live in war for four years. You know it can happen anytime. You continue to live, but you are always aware of the danger.