Wave after wave of Russian drones and missiles were sent against Ukrainian cities overnight. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko described the attacks, which began on Wednesday night, as the “most massive” to hit the capital.
Journalists from the AFP news agency, among others, are reporting numerous explosions. All ten administrative districts of Kyiv are reported to have been affected.
"The capital was hit by ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones," Klitschko wrote on Telegram on Thursday morning, calling the night "terrible."
A national day of mourning has been declared for Friday.
Children injured
At least 20 people have been killed, according to Timur Tkachenko, head of the city's military administration. In addition, nearly 90 people are reported to have been injured.
“We have very serious destruction and a significant number of victims, including children,” Tkachenko writes on Telegram.
The material damage is described as extensive. Several buildings, including residential buildings and hotels, have been hit.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on X that an ambulance station and a research institute were also damaged.
"Air defense deliveries to Ukraine are of absolute and critical priority. (...) We also expect a decision from the US regarding licenses for (producing the air defense missile) Patriot. These are the kinds of things that can stop this war," he writes.
Over 70 robots
Air raid sirens were also heard in other parts of Ukraine during the night. Explosions have been reported in Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv and Sumy, among others.
The Russian Defense Ministry calls the night's attacks a response to "the Kyiv regime's terrorist attacks on civilian infrastructure in Russia." On Telegram, the ministry in Moscow writes that long-range missiles and attack drones were sent to several locations in Ukraine.
According to Ukraine's Air Force, Russia fired 74 missiles and nearly 500 drones, most of them at the capital, writes The Kyiv Independent.
President Zelenskyy warned on Wednesday that Russia was planning a “massive attack” on the country. He then announced that he would cancel his ongoing visit to Ireland.
