KYIV, Ukraine — A significant nighttime assault on the Ukrainian capital by Russia resulted in the deaths of at least 10 individuals and injured 38, as reported by local authorities early Thursday.
The combined attacks were the most notable in Kyiv since President Donald Trump increased his efforts to end the Kremlin’s war, a campaign that has stalled over the past week. Ukraine’s air force disclosed that a total of 629 drones and missiles were fired at the country during the night, marking one of the war’s largest attacks.
The nighttime assaults unmistakably demonstrate Russia’s preference for “ballistics over the negotiating table,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in a post on X. “All deadlines have already been missed; numerous opportunities for diplomacy have been squandered.”
At least one child was killed in the attack, Zelenskyy said.
The Russian attacks impacted over 20 locations throughout Kyiv, causing damage to homes and resulting in around 60,000 residents losing power, officials reported.
Several strong explosions were heard by NBC News in central Kyiv, a rare event in the core of the Ukrainian capital since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Rescuers were pulling out people trapped underneath the rubble, with the toll expected to rise.
Zelensky reiterated his call for “new tough sanctions” against Russia, hoping the U.S. might target Putin’s economy to force him to the table.
While Trump has provided additional time despite the Kremlin showing little urgency, Ukraine has been targeting Russian oil infrastructure to increase pressure.
Russia has meanwhile intensified its aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities. In July, a massive strike on Kyiv killed at least 31 people, the deadliest attack on the capital since this year.
Ukraine acknowledged for the first time on Tuesday that Russian troops had entered the eastern-central region of Dnipropetrovsk, but said they were pushed back as fighting continued near two villages.
Daryna Mayer reported from Kyiv, and Peter Guo from Hong Kong.
