Eight Dead as Russian Missiles and Drones Rain Down on Kyiv
By Sholeye Ayodele, Lagos
Ukraine reported on Monday that Russia had launched a large-scale assault involving dozens of drones and missiles, striking various parts of the country. One of the attacks tore through a residential building in Kyiv, killing eight civilians.
Efforts to bring the ongoing three-year war to a diplomatic resolution have stalled. The last direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow took place nearly three weeks ago, and no further negotiations have been scheduled.
AFP reporters in the capital heard drones flying overhead, followed by a series of loud explosions during the nighttime bombardment.
Natalia Marshavska, a resident of Kyiv who was awake during the strike, recounted the terrifying moments to AFP. She described how the sound of a drone intensified until it was directly overhead.
“I realized it was right above us, and then came the explosion—all within seconds,” she said. The blast threw her across the room, shattered her apartment windows, and quickly filled the space with smoke.
“It was horrible,” she added.
The Russian military stated that it had deployed precision-guided munitions and unmanned aerial vehicles to target Ukrainian military infrastructure, claiming that “all designated targets were destroyed.”
Ukrainian Interior Minister Igor Klymenko confirmed on national television that seven people were killed and 30 others injured in Kyiv, while one additional fatality was recorded in Bila Tserkva, a city near the capital.
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia had launched a total of 352 unmanned aerial vehicles, including drones of Iranian design, along with 16 missiles targeting various locations across Ukraine. He also alleged that some of the weapons used were supplied to Russia by North Korea.
“Countries bordering Russia, Iran, and North Korea must seriously consider whether they are prepared to protect lives if this alliance of aggressors continues to spread terror,” Zelensky warned.
The Ukrainian leader arrived in the United Kingdom on Monday for an unannounced visit. The UK remains one of Ukraine’s most steadfast allies. Zelensky announced that discussions with British partners would focus on defence cooperation and sanctions against Russia.
According to a senior Ukrainian official, Zelensky is scheduled to meet with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and members of the British Parliament.
This visit comes just days before the NATO summit in The Hague, which Zelensky is expected to attend on the sidelines. However, his participation will be limited to avoid a direct encounter with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has altered the West’s stance on the conflict since returning to office, undermining Ukraine and signaling openness to improved ties with Moscow.
Meanwhile, AFP correspondents on the ground in Kyiv reported seeing residents huddled in the basement of an apartment building during the aerial assault. A multi-storey residential structure was severely damaged in the attack, with rescue teams on-site clearing the wreckage.
