KYIV – Russia unleashed one of the largest air assaults on Ukraine’s capital since the beginning of its full-scale invasion, launching dozens of missiles and drones at Kyiv and surrounding regions early Wednesday morning, Ukrainian officials said.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that over 80 aerial weapons, including hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, cruise missiles, and Shahed drones, were fired during the multi-wave attack. The strike began around 3:00 a.m. local time and continued for more than three hours.
Ukraine’s air defence systems intercepted the majority of the incoming threats, but some missiles penetrated defences, causing significant damage to infrastructure and injuring civilians. At least 13 people were reported wounded, with several residential buildings and power stations damaged.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that emergency services were deployed across multiple districts of the capital. Explosions were heard across the city as air defence units worked to repel the assault.
“Kyiv has not seen this level of aerial attack in months. The intensity and variety of weaponry used are alarming,” Klitschko said in a statement.
Ukrainian military officials believe the attack was designed to overwhelm the capital’s multi-layered air defence network, particularly targeting energy infrastructure and military command nodes. The use of hypersonic missiles, which are harder to intercept, has raised concerns about Ukraine’s ability to withstand sustained aerial bombardment as winter approaches.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, calling it “a terrorist strike against civilians” and renewed his appeal for advanced Western air defence systems, including Patriot and SAMP/T batteries.
“We are defending not just Ukraine, but the values of all free nations. Air defence is not a luxury—it is a necessity,” Zelenskyy said during an emergency briefing.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and several EU leaders swiftly condemned the strike and reiterated calls for urgent military support to Kyiv.
The assault comes amid reports that Russia is increasing its stockpile of Iranian-made Shahed drones and ramping up missile production as the war drags into a third year.
Photo Credit: Reuters
