Russian Drone Strikes Apartment Block in Deadly Wave Across Kyiv

A deadly wave of Russian strikes hit Ukraine’s capital overnight, as at least four people were killed when a drone pierced an apartment block in eastern Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks as “vile and calculated,” reporting that some 430 drones and 18 missiles were launched, damaging dozens of high-rise buildings across the city.

Eyewitnesses described harrowing scenes. Vita, a resident in the Lisovyi district, recounted how the drone penetrated the building and exploded on the opposite side: “I saw it with my own eyes.” Emergency services confirmed that multiple floors collapsed, and rescue teams pulled more than 40 people from the rubble, including 14 from a separate residential fire.

The attack also severely impacted Kyiv’s energy infrastructure, leaving buildings without heat. Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that nine people are hospitalized, one in “extremely serious condition.” Other regions were targeted as well, including a drone strike on a market in Chornomorsk, which killed two people.

These strikes come less than a week after a previous Russian offensive killed six and damaged residential buildings and energy systems. President Zelensky has called for “no exceptions” to Western sanctions on Russian energy, even as the U.S. recently granted Hungary a waiver.