Ukraine War: Russia Launches Heavy Air Attacks on Kyiv; Residents Trapped

Russia launched a wave of heavy air attacks across Ukraine overnight, deploying dozens of cruise missiles and rockets, according to Ukrainian authorities and media reports. Air raid sirens wailed and intense explosions were heard in the capital, Kyiv, shortly after midnight. The attacks reportedly damaged several buildings in Kyiv, including a residential building in the historic Podil district where residents were trapped on upper floors.

“

People are trapped on the seventh to ninth floors.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that debris from drones also fell on another residential building in the same area and in other city districts. He urged residents to remain in shelters. The Ukrainian air defense system demonstrated a relatively high success rate against Russian drones and cruise missiles, but remains largely ineffective against ballistic missiles, which are faster and harder to intercept.

“

This is entirely in Putin's style – immediately after the American Independence Day and before the NATO summit in Ankara, he wants to 'cause more disaster and kill people'.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously warned of potential escalations by Russia ahead of the NATO summit in Turkey. Citing intelligence reports, Zelenskyy stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed to "cause more disaster and kill people" immediately after the U.S. Independence Day and before the summit. He appealed to international partners to bolster Ukraine's air defense capabilities, emphasizing that delays in supplying missile defense systems like Patriot cost lives and embolden Russia to continue its aggression.

“

Every delay in the delivery of missiles for our air defense and for the Patriot systems costs lives and encourages Russia to continue the war.