A large Russian attack struck Kyiv overnight and into Thursday morning, killing at least 13 people and wounding many others, officials said.
Russia launched waves of rockets and missiles at the Ukrainian capital over nearly a dozen hours. As of Thursday morning, the death toll in Kyiv hhad increased to 13, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service.
Tymur Tkachenko, chief of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said on Telegram that according to preliminary information, at least 56 people, including two children, were injured.
Damage to buildings and infrastructure was recorded in more than 30 locations within the capital, Tkachenko said.
“There were very significant direct hits on residential buildings, where, unfortunately, rescuers are pulling people from the rubble, including those killed,” he said, accusing Russia of “very deliberately striking residential buildings.”
“This night has once again shown their terrorist nature.”
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said drones struck buildings and homes, sparking fires. He said rescuers were heading to the scene of a nine-story residential building that had collapsed. People were trapped inside, he said.
Responders rescued 17 people from the building, including seven people who were pulled from its rubble, the State Emergency Service said, stating only one person was killed in the “deadly trap” but people were reportedly still missing and search operations were ongoing.
More than 20 residential buildings across Kyiv were hit, it said.
Nearly 500 rescuers were responding to the attack, the State Emergency Service said, adding that psychologists were also deployed to aid the victims.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense said on Thursday that it had launched a large attack targeting Ukraine’s defense, fuel and energy infrastructure in the Kyiv region, state-run RIA reported.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the Kremlin attacked residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, accusing Russia of committing “grave war crimes.”
“We demand strong international responses. Not only words of condemnation but concrete action to stop Russian terror,” Sybiha said in a statement, calling on the international community to approve its request for air defense systems and missiles.
Міністр внутрішніх справ України Ігор Клименко на місці ліквідації наслідків ворожого удару по житловому будинку в Дарницькому районі столиці координує хід рятувальних робіт. pic.twitter.com/urhjbhUJR1— МВС України (@MVS_UA) July 2, 2026
The strike began hours after President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine warned residents that they had received information indicating Russia was prepared to launch a “massive” strike.
“We know that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has been preparing a massive strike against Ukraine for some time. That is exactly the threat we are facing tonight,” he said Wednesday in a statement issued from Ireland, where he was meeting with Prime Minister Micheal Martin.
He said he was returning to Ukraine, while urging residents to be careful and to take shelter.
The attack came as the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War said that the Kremlin’s spring and summer offensive “has failed” to achieve significant gains so far, with the rate of advance by Russian forces this month being a fraction of what it was last June.
“Russian forces have also experienced heavy casualties and equipment losses to make these relatively small gains,” it said in a statement.
