Six Dead and 80 Wounded in Russian Retaliatory Airstrikes on Ukraine
Russia targets Kyiv with heavy missile and drone attack early Friday morning.
In the early hours of Friday, Russia unleashed a massive barrage of missiles and drones on Kyiv and several other Ukrainian cities, resulting in at least six fatalities and leaving dozens more wounded. The attacks began shortly after midnight, rocking the capital with a series of loud explosions that lit up the night sky and sent residents scrambling to shelters as air raid sirens wailed across the city.
The assault marked one of the most severe aerial bombardments Ukraine has faced in recent months. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that three emergency responders lost their lives while attempting to save others during the onslaught in Kyiv. Additional casualties were reported in Chernihiv, where two people were killed, and in Lutsk, where at least one fatality occurred as a result of the strikes. Officials stated that more than eighty people were injured countrywide, with dozens requiring hospital treatment for shrapnel wounds and smoke inhalation.
This wave of attacks followed an explicit warning from Russian President Vladimir Putin. The message, delivered through U.S. President Donald Trump, indicated Moscow’s intent to retaliate after a series of Ukrainian drone strikes targeted and destroyed multiple strategic bombers deep inside Russian territory. In a statement, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its forces had struck military and related infrastructure in Ukraine “in response to terrorist acts.”
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 407 drones—one of the largest drone attacks of the war to date—alongside 45 cruise and ballistic missiles. Despite Ukraine’s air defenses intercepting many of the incoming threats, officials acknowledged that several projectiles reached their targets, inflicting significant damage.
Kyiv’s municipal administration described extensive disruptions to the city’s metro system after a missile strike damaged railway tracks between stations, forcing temporary closures and significant delays. The national railway company rerouted several trains due to rail damage outside the city, further complicating movement for thousands of commuters.
This escalation comes amid ongoing hostilities along the frontlines in eastern and southern Ukraine. Emergency workers continue recovery efforts across affected areas, bracing for the possibility of additional attacks as tensions remain high. The Ukrainian government reaffirmed its commitment to defending its cities and called on its international allies for increased support in bolstering air defenses against future assaults.
