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Russian missile and drone strikes hit Kyiv early Thursday, killing eight people and injuring more than a dozen others, in what Ukrainian authorities described as a coordinated overnight assault following warnings of a “massive attack” from Moscow.
The strikes came shortly after President Volodymyr Zelensky cautioned that Russia was preparing a large-scale operation, cutting short a diplomatic visit to Dublin on Wednesday after receiving intelligence reports indicating an imminent strike.
“I urge our people to be especially careful, to protect themselves, their children, and, of course, their families; to use shelters and heed air raid alerts in Ukraine; this is very important.” He said, urging Ukrainians to take immediate precautions.
Explosions were reported across Kyiv in the early hours of Thursday, with AFP journalists in central and eastern parts of the city hearing more than a dozen blasts. Residents, including families with children and pets, rushed into metro stations as air raid sirens sounded.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed the attack on Telegram, adding that explosions were being heard across multiple districts.
City authorities said eight people were killed and 11 others injured, while regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk reported that five districts of the wider Kyiv region were affected.
Emergency services responded to fires in warehouses and residential areas in the Bucha district, while homes, a student dormitory, and vehicles were also damaged. AFP reporters earlier witnessed an explosion in central Kyiv, followed by smoke and flames, and a second blast occurred roughly 50 minutes later in the same area.
Ukraine has also intensified long-range drone operations inside Russia in recent weeks, targeting energy and military infrastructure, while Moscow reports repeated drone interceptions near its border regions.
The war, now in its fourth year, continues to inflict heavy losses. A study by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimated more than two million military casualties, with Russian forces bearing the majority.
Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts led by the United States, attempts to broker an end to the conflict have yet to succeed.
