Kyiv suffered a heavy overnight assault when Russian forces launched a broad missile and drone attack that Ukrainian and Lithuanian officials said left nine people dead and at least 30 injured. Local authorities reported substantial damage to residential and commercial properties and fires across several districts of the capital.
Scope of the strike
Ukraine's military reported detecting 358 aerial weapons during the broader operation - a mix that included multiple missile types and unmanned aerial vehicles. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko called the incident a "horrific night" for the city, saying fires were recorded in five districts and that both residential and commercial structures, along with other infrastructure, had been damaged or destroyed.
National authorities said the strikes impacted 18 residential buildings and a school in Kyiv, alongside several infrastructure facilities. Regions beyond the capital were also targeted: the attacks extended to Dnipro, Sumy, Kharkiv and Poltava.
President's account and air-defence issues
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia had fired 27 Iskander-type ballistic missiles and that Ukrainian forces intercepted only one of them. He attributed the low interception rate to a shortage of interceptor missiles available for the U.S.-supplied Patriot air-defence systems, a shortfall he has highlighted in public statements.
Analysts and officials noted that the scale of the attack could amplify Ukrainian appeals for additional Patriot interceptors and other air-defence equipment.
Damage to Lithuanian embassy and diplomatic response
Lithuania's foreign ministry reported that two missiles landed near its embassy in Kyiv during the strikes. One impact occurred roughly 10 metres from the embassy building and another about 150 metres away. No embassy staff were injured, but the ministry said windows were shattered, solar collectors were damaged and debris was scattered over the embassy grounds.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys announced his government would summon a representative of Russia's embassy to lodge a protest. Budrys also called for sustained military assistance to Ukraine and urged increased sanctions pressure on Moscow with the stated aim of pushing Russia toward negotiations.
Moscow's statements
Russia's defence ministry said its forces had targeted sites used to manufacture, store and transport missiles, drones, radar systems and electronic-warfare equipment, though those claims could not be independently verified. Moscow also said it had struck two vessels carrying military cargo destined for a Ukrainian port south of Odesa and that Russian forces intercepted 274 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions and the Azov and Black seas.
The events of the night leave Kyiv grappling with civilian casualties and infrastructure damage, diplomatic fallout with Lithuania and renewed scrutiny on Ukraine's air-defence needs.