KYIV, Ukraine — Russia launched a major overnight missile and drone attack on Kyiv and the surrounding region on Wednesday, killing at least four people, including a 14 year old child, and damaging homes, businesses and energy infrastructure.
Ukraine’s air force said Russian forces launched 188 drones along with several missiles during the assault. Air defenses intercepted 155 drones and five missiles, but other weapons and falling debris struck locations across the capital and Kyiv region.
Two women and the child were killed in the wider Kyiv region, while another person died when a warehouse in the capital was struck. Several people were injured as firefighters and rescue workers responded to damaged buildings and fires.
The attack also hit Ukraine’s energy network, leaving some communities without electricity. Power company DTEK said electricity was later restored to about 8,000 households as crews worked to repair damaged infrastructure.
For Kyiv residents, the assault brought another night of air raid warnings, explosions and emergency sheltering. Smoke covered parts of the capital after the strikes, and authorities advised residents in affected areas to keep their windows closed.
Russia said its forces targeted a communications facility in Kyiv, energy installations supporting military production and port infrastructure in Izmail. Moscow has repeatedly said its long range attacks are directed at military and strategic infrastructure.
Ukrainian officials say civilian neighborhoods and infrastructure continue to be damaged during the strikes. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy renewed calls for additional air defense systems as Ukraine faces increasingly frequent attacks involving ballistic missiles and faster jet powered drones.
The latest assault comes as Russia intensifies pressure on Ukraine’s electricity system ahead of winter. Ukrainian authorities have warned that sustained attacks on power facilities could increase the risk of electricity and heating disruptions during the colder months.
Kyiv has faced repeated attacks in recent weeks, with missiles and drones striking residential areas, government facilities and other sites. The continuing assaults have forced thousands of residents to regularly seek shelter during overnight air raid alerts.
The effects of the latest attack were also felt beyond Ukraine. Authorities in neighboring countries took precautionary security measures as aerial threats approached areas close to NATO territory.
More than four years after Russia launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, diplomatic efforts to end the war remain unresolved, while both sides continue long range attacks against military, industrial and energy targets.
