At least 27 people were reportedly killed after Russia launched a major drone assault on areas near Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, on Friday night. The attack triggered explosions across several locations and caused extensive damage to residential and commercial properties.
According to reports, multiple Russian drones struck the Bucha district near Kyiv. A large warehouse in the Kyiv area was also reportedly hit, resulting in a major explosion and subsequent fires. Ukrainian officials said around 50 houses were damaged during the attack, while emergency teams were deployed to affected areas to assess the destruction and assist residents.
Kyiv officials described the assault as one of the latest major attacks against civilian areas as the Russia-Ukraine war continues into its fourth year. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ordered an assessment of the damage and called for investigations into the consequences of the strikes.
Ukrainian military officials said the attacks caused significant destruction across several locations. Russia, meanwhile, claimed that its strikes were aimed at Ukrainian weapons storage facilities and military infrastructure.
The latest escalation follows a series of Ukrainian drone attacks against targets inside Russia earlier this month. Russian authorities previously reported that hundreds of Ukrainian drones had been launched during one major assault, with hundreds allegedly intercepted by Russian air defences. An oil refinery in Nizhnekamsk, an industrial city in Russia’s Tatarstan region, was also reportedly targeted.
Moscow’s latest assault is being viewed against the backdrop of the continuing cycle of long-range drone attacks between the two sides. With civilian areas repeatedly affected, concerns remain over further escalation and the humanitarian consequences of the prolonged conflict.
