Two Dead in Kyiv After ‘Most Powerful’ Russian Attack in Months

Two people have been killed in what authorities have described as the “most powerful” aerial attack on Kyiv since the spring.

Ukraine said its forces had downed more than two dozen Russian cruise missiles and 15 attack drones overnight. "Twenty eight cruise missiles and 15 attack UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) were destroyed," the air force said in a statement, adding that Russian forces had deployed a total of 44 projectiles.

Debris from the interceptions fell on the city causing casualties.

The capital’s mayor, Vitaly Klitschko, said in a post on social media: “As a result of the enemy’s missile attack in Kyiv, two people have been killed so far.

“Two more have been injured and hospitalized.”

Air raid sirens sounded in Kyiv at 2:40 a.m. Kyiv Post reporters in the capital heard several explosions as air defenses intercepted the drones and missiles.

Olena, 30, was in her high-rise apartment when the sounds of loud explosions jolted her awake. “I started checking all the news and there was information that there were a lot of rockets in the sky and air defense was working,” she said.

“I took a bag with documents, put my cat in a cage and suddenly noticed something out the window,” she said.

“I didn’t understand what exactly happened but the only thing I knew was that it’s very close to my home. It reminded me of spring 2022 when the rocket hit Artem’s factory. At that time, it was terrible to understand that all of this happened not far from your home.”

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The scene in Kyiv where two men were killed in the overnight attack. VIDEO: Jay Schnell

Workers could be seen clearing away glass and debris at a site that had apparently been hit by debris.

“No people have been hurt here, no bodies, only destroyed,” the man in charge told a Kyiv Post reporter.

Russian forces had launched groups of Iranian-made Shahed attack drones at the capital from different directions, and launched missiles from aircraft, the Kyiv city military administration said.

The all-clear was given at 5:40 a.m.