Russian missiles and drones struck Kyiv, setting a nine-storey apartment building ablaze during an assault that marked the second major strike on the Ukrainian capital within a 24 hours. The heavy bombardment resulted in at least two fatalities and left 21 individuals injured, drawing an urgent call from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the United States to implement harsh sanctions against Russia.
Footage and imagery from the impact site showed enormous flames consuming the high-rise structure as dense black smoke billowed into the atmosphere. Emergency crews and firefighters deployed hoses to battle the inferno while security personnel assisted in evacuating residents from the damaged property.
According to Zelensky, Russian forces utilized 39 ballistic missiles alongside more than 120 strike drones and loitering munitions to target critical infrastructure and the energy sector across Kyiv, the surrounding region, and Kharkiv. The onslaught caused severe damage to facilities and equipment spanning 26 components of Ukraine's electric power grid and four installations within the oil and gas sector, leaving approximately 600,000 people without electricity.
Characterizing the energy sector strikes as intentional, Zelensky noted that Moscow had ignored a ceasefire appeal put forward by US President Donald Trump. He asserted that the Kremlin passed up a chance for de-escalation by pursuing what he termed a reckless war of destruction, while also requesting Washington to supply extra Patriot anti-missile systems.
In response to the barrage, the Russian Defence Ministry stated that its military had struck seven Ukrainian energy infrastructure targets and a data center utilized for gathering intelligence on Russian armed forces. The ministry maintained that the overnight operation, executed via ground-launched missiles and long-range strike drones, targeted heat and power plants in Kyiv and the surrounding region, a thermal power plant, an electrical substation, and energy facilities in Kharkiv. Following the attacks, Kyiv residents faced widespread power disruptions.