Kiev Under Heavy Attack Amid Renewed Russian Assault

Kiev, Ukraine (AP) – On Friday, Kiev experienced a significant wave of drone and missile strikes, marking the largest air attack since the onset of the Russian-Ukrainian war over three years ago. This comes during a new Russian effort to extend its territorial reach.

The intense bombardment left at least 23 people injured and caused severe damage across various districts of the capital during a relentless seven-hour assault. Explosions lit up the night sky, and air raid sirens wailed throughout the city. Emergency vehicles illuminated the high-rise buildings with their blue lights, while debris littered the streets.

“It was a tough, sleepless night,” noted Ukrainian resident Voldimir Zelenki.

Russia has intensified its long-range strikes on Ukrainian cities. Just a week prior, they launched what was then the largest air raid of the conflict. This trend aligns with coordinated attempts by Russian forces to penetrate approximately 1,000 kilometers of frontlines that have put Ukrainian soldiers under immense pressure.

The Air Force reported that around 550 drones and missiles were launched across Ukraine during the night. Most of these were Shahed drones, with 11 missiles also included in the barrage.

Alya Shahlai, a 23-year-old wedding photographer in Kyiv, shared her experience of losing her home in the attack.

“We were all in the shelter, and it was so loud that staying home would have been suicidal,” she recounted. “We had just gone down when there was this loud explosion, the lights went out in the shelter, and chaos erupted.”

The assault on Kiev coincided with a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelensky interpreted the timing as a signal that Moscow had no intention of halting the conflict.

Trump indicated he would reach out to Zelensky on Friday but remarked that international peace efforts spearheaded by the US have yet to yield positive results. Recent negotiations have only facilitated sporadic exchanges of prisoners and deceased soldiers.

When questioned about his discussions with Putin regarding a potential end to hostilities in Ukraine, he replied, “No, nothing progressed today.” His dissatisfaction was palpable: “I’m not pleased with this. I don’t think he’s interested in stopping,” Trump stated about Putin’s approach.

Yuri Ushakov, a foreign advisor to Putin, confirmed that the Russian leader reiterated Moscow’s commitment to achieving its objectives in Ukraine, aiming to eliminate what he termed the “root cause” of the conflict.

“Russia will not back down from these goals,” Ushakov assured reporters following the call.

The Russian military launched its invasion on February 24, 2022, under the pretense of protecting Russian-speaking civilians in eastern Ukraine and countering the country’s efforts to join NATO. Zelensky has consistently criticized Russia’s misleading narratives.

The US has paused several shipments of military aid to Ukraine, notably critical air defense missiles. As a result, Ukraine’s primary European allies are evaluating how best to bridge this gap. Zelensky mentioned ongoing plans to develop Ukraine’s domestic arms capability, although scaling this up will take time.

Throughout the night, Associated Press journalists in Kiev recorded the persistent drone buzz overhead, punctuated by explosions and gunfire as Ukrainian forces attempted to intercept the incoming onslaught.

“An absolutely terrifying, sleepless night in Kiev,” tweeted Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andri Sibikh. “One of the most harrowing I’ve ever experienced.”

Ukrainian Economic Minister Yuriya Swilidenko described how families were seeking shelter in various makeshift locations as destruction unfolded in the heart of the city.

“What Kiev endured last night was nothing short of a deliberate act of terror,” she noted on social media.

Kiev was the primary target, and at least 14 individuals have been hospitalized, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

Ukrainian air defenses managed to shoot down around 270 targets, including two cruise missiles, while an additional 208 targets disappeared from radar, likely thwarted. The attack impacted eight sites with nine missiles and around 63 drones, with debris from intercepted drones landing in at least 33 locations.

Besides the capital, areas like Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv also faced damage, as reported by Zelensky.

Emergency services indicated destruction across at least five of the city’s ten districts. In the Solomianski district, part of a five-story residential building was ruined, and the roof of another seven-story structure was ablaze. Fires erupted in warehouses, auto repair shops, and garages.

In the Sviatoshynskyi district, a strike affected a 14-story residential building, igniting a fire nearby as several vehicles caught flames. Additional fires were reported in non-residential facilities.

In the Shevchenkivskyi district, an eight-story building sustained damage at the ground level. Falling debris was noted in both the Darnytskyi and Holosiivskyi districts.

Ukrainian national railway operator Ukrazariznitya reported that the drones damaged part of Kyiv’s railway infrastructure.