Russia launched its largest attack on Kyiv, with 500 drones and 70 missiles causing widespread destruction and casualties.

Kyiv faced its longest air raid of the war, lasting 11 hours from Wednesday night into Thursday. Russia unleashed a massive assault on the Ukrainian capital, targeting residential areas with over 500 drones and 70 missiles, including hard-to-intercept ballistic missiles. Authorities reported 20 fatalities, nearly 90 injuries, and extensive damage to over 30 locations, with the Darnyzkyj district suffering the most destruction. Rescue teams worked tirelessly to save survivors, including a 15-year-old girl and her family, from the rubble.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who had warned of the attack from Dublin, urged citizens to seek shelter and heed air raid alerts. Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko called it a ‘horrific night’ and declared Friday a day of mourning. Despite advanced warning systems and apps guiding residents to Soviet-era metro shelters, the scale of the attack overwhelmed defenses. The Ukrainian Air Force managed to intercept most projectiles, but the sheer volume of firepower left significant devastation in its wake.