Death toll rises to 18 as massive Russian strike ravages Kyiv’s infrastructure

A massive overnight Russian missile and drone strike inflicted widespread destruction across every district of Kyiv, marking the first time since the full-scale invasion began that the entire city has been simultaneously affected, said Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration (KCMA).

“We are synchronizing in real time regarding the liquidation of the consequences of the attack. With the State Emergency Service, and with city services, with DTEK, gas workers, and the district. And even with the region, because the regional hospital in the Podilskyi district suffered,” Tkachenko emphasized, highlighting the extensive coordination among multiple agencies working to mitigate the impact, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainian media.

Tkachenko explained that coordination between all emergency and utility services has improved significantly, with teams reporting every four hours. Nonetheless, he acknowledged that delivering immediate assistance to residents remains a significant challenge.

The attack shattered thousands of windows citywide, with the Holosiivskyi district alone reporting damage to approximately 80 residential buildings. To support affected residents, a mobile unit from the State Migration Service was deployed to facilitate passport services, while a mobile service center operated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs is actively assisting in documentation recovery.

“People must have the opportunity to restore lost documents. Thanks for this assistance,” Tkachenko noted.

Restoration efforts are ongoing for critical utilities. Several neighborhoods continue to experience gas outages, with Kyivgaz already mobilized to address the issue. Electricity supply disruptions persist at 33 locations, where specialists are working diligently to restore power as soon as rescue operations conclude.

“We have 33 locations with consequences, at 18 rescuers are involved. We have an anti-record — damage in all districts of the city. A hard day, but we are working,” Tkachenko summarized.

Tragically, rescue teams recovered another body as of 3:51 p.m. local time, bringing the death toll in Kyiv from today’s attack to 18.

The assault, described by Ukrainian Air Forces spokesman Yurii Ihnat as one of the most massive bombardments on the capital in recent months, involved a significant barrage of missiles and kamikaze drones. One particularly severe strike hit a five-story residential building in the Darnytskyi district, destroying one entire entrance between the third and fourth floors and causing extensive structural damage.

The attack also disrupted traffic on several major streets, compounding challenges for emergency responders.

In response, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the shelling and urged international partners—specifically calling on China and Hungary—to take decisive action against Russia’s continued aggression.

By Vafa Guliyeva