Deadly Drone Strike Hits Kyiv: 2 Killed, 13 Injured in One of the War’s Most Intense Aerial Assaults

Kyiv — At least two people were killed and 13 others injured after a massive overnight drone strike targeted the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, marking one of the fiercest aerial attacks on the city in recent weeks, Ukrainian officials confirmed early Thursday.

According to the Ukrainian military, Russian drones targeted six districts across Kyiv during the hours-long barrage, sparking multiple fires and damaging residential areas, vehicles, and key infrastructure. Among the worst-hit locations were the Shevchenkivskyi and Podilskyi districts.

“Residential buildings, vehicles, warehouses, office and non-residential buildings are burning,” said Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, in a Telegram statement. “Unfortunately, we have two dead. These people were killed by the Russians. This is a terrible loss.”
The drone assault came just days after Ukraine reported the largest aerial offensive since the war began, involving over 700 drones and a dozen missiles launched across the country.

Authorities confirmed that debris from one of the downed drones struck the roof of a building in the central Shevchenkivskyi district. Dramatic, unverified videos circulating on social media captured blinding flashes across the skyline as Ukrainian air defences sprang into action.

In Podilskyi, a primary healthcare centre was nearly destroyed, Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said, urging residents to stay in shelters and keep windows closed due to lingering smoke and hazardous air conditions.

The Ukrainian air force issued broader warnings overnight about potential drone activity in other regions. As of Thursday morning, there were no confirmed casualties outside Kyiv.

Civilian Toll Rises Amid Escalating Strikes
Elsewhere in Ukraine, the emergency services agency DSNS reported that three civilians were killed late Wednesday in a Russian airstrike on Kostiantynivka, a town near the eastern front lines.

The latest attacks underscore the rising intensity of Russia’s air campaign, even as Ukraine receives fresh—but limited—support from its allies. According to Reuters, the United States has resumed shipments of select weapons, including air defence systems, after a brief pause.

Trump Criticizes Putin’s “Empty Gestures”
In a separate development, former U.S. President Donald Trump voiced rare public criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that despite “polite gestures,” Putin’s actions were ultimately deceptive.

“We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth,” Trump said Tuesday. “He’s very nice to us all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”
The Kremlin responded calmly, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov labeling Trump’s comments as part of his characteristically blunt rhetoric, and reaffirmed that Moscow remained unfazed.

Despite Trump’s past assertions that he could end the war within a day if reelected, no significant diplomatic progress or new sanctions have emerged since his return to office in January.

Read more: President Trump says US to send ‘more weapons’ to Ukraine

As Ukraine braces for more aerial attacks and international focus shifts between diplomatic stalemates and humanitarian concerns, the civilian cost of the war continues to rise with no end in sight.