Russia’s deadly overnight barrage on Kyiv kills at least five, damages children’s hospital

At least five people were killed in Kyiv and the surrounding region on Thursday after Russia launched what Ukrainian officials described as a “massive attack” on the capital. The strikes hit apartment blocks, warehouses and an industrial facility, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service.

At least 23 people were also injured. One survivor was pulled from the debris early on Thursday, and rescue teams continued to search for others still trapped.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said a children’s hospital was among the buildings damaged, with windows blown out and nearby vehicles set ablaze. He added that an industrial center in the Solomyanskyi district of southwestern Kyiv also came under missile fire. In the Brovary district outside the capital, regional governor Tymur Tkachenko reported one man dead and another wounded.

Earlier in the night, regional authorities issued air-raid alerts, telling residents to take shelter and warning that air-defense operations were possible in the area. The Ukrainian air force sent repeated missile warnings as more strikes were detected.

The attacks cut electricity for thousands of households across the Kyiv region, plunging parts of the capital’s outskirts into darkness while repair crews raced to restore power.

Kyiv has faced near-nightly attacks in recent weeks, some of which have resulted in dozens of casualties. The intensified bombardment comes as Ukraine continues to target sites inside Russia, raising pressure on Moscow to enter serious peace talks to end the four-and-a-half-year war. This week alone, two separate Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory killed at least 16 people, including a child.

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and now controls roughly one-fifth of the country, mostly in eastern border regions.