Kyiv, Ukraine – Web Desk: Russia launched one of the largest aerial assaults of the war on Ukraine’s capital overnight, with Kyiv City Military Administration Head Tymur Tkachenko confirming that at least twenty-one people have been killed in the bombardment. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko put the number of injured at 86, with 70 of them hospitalized, describing the attack as the “most massive” strike on the capital throughout the war. The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent
Russia hammered Kyiv in an 11-hour drone and missile attack overnight into Thursday morning, with Moscow describing the assault as retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil facilities. Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia fired 74 missiles — 28 of them ballistic, a record number for a single strike on the capital — along with 496 long-range drones. Loud explosions echoed across the city for hours as residents rushed to shelters and metro stations. ABC NewsThe Kyiv Independent
Damage was recorded at 30 locations across the Ukrainian capital, mostly hitting residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, according to Tkachenko. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said around 20 residential buildings sustained damage in the assault. ABC NewsABC News
In one of the worst-hit areas, a multi-storey residential building partially collapsed, with rescue teams working through the night and into the morning to pull survivors from the rubble. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service confirmed that search and rescue operations were ongoing at several sites, including a partially collapsed multi-storey residential building in the Darnytskyi district. Officials warned that the death toll is likely to rise further as debris continues to be cleared. The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent
President Volodymyr Zelensky had earlier warned of an imminent large-scale strike and cut short his diplomatic visit abroad in response. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the assault as a “night of horror” for the capital, and rejected Russian attempts to frame the strikes as retaliation, asserting that Ukraine’s own long-range operations fall within its right to self-defence under the UN Charter. ABC News
Russia’s Defence Ministry maintained that its forces had targeted Ukrainian military-industrial sites, fuel and energy facilities, and airfield infrastructure across several regions. However, Ukrainian officials insist the bulk of the destruction struck residential neighbourhoods, leaving ordinary civilians to bear the brunt of the attack. A citywide Day of Mourning has been declared in Kyiv for July 3. The Kyiv Independent
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly urged Western allies to expedite the delivery of additional air defence systems, particularly Patriot missile batteries, warning that ballistic missiles remain far harder to intercept than drones. Several Western governments, including the UK, Germany, and the European Union, have strongly condemned the attack, calling for expanded defence support to Ukraine and additional sanctions against Moscow.
