Russia carried out a major drone and missile assault on Kyiv overnight into Thursday, with loud explosions reported across the city for hours. Ukrainian officials said the strike killed at least 20 people and injured scores of others, while damage was recorded in dozens of locations, largely to residential buildings and civilian infrastructure.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other authorities issued early warnings, prompting many residents to take shelter—often at subway stations. Rescue teams worked through the night and into the morning to search rubble from damaged buildings, with officials saying the death toll could rise as operations continued.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha characterized the attack as a “night of horror,” and urged Ukraine’s allies to accelerate air-defense assistance, emphasizing the need for more air-defense missiles and systems. Zelenskyy also reiterated Ukraine’s request for additional air defense, including Patriot-related support.

Ukrainian authorities reported fires and partial collapses in multiple districts of Kyiv, with emergency services deploying hundreds of personnel and specialized equipment. Russia’s Defense Ministry said the attack was in retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on Russian targets, while Ukrainian officials framed their actions as self-defense under international law.