Russia Launches Deadly Missile and Drone Attack on Kyiv, Killing 22 Including Two Children
Russia launched a major missile and drone attack on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, killing at least 22 people, including two children, and wounding 82 others, according to officials. The assault, which came just hours after a high-level diplomatic meeting, involved multiple waves of strikes, with the main missile volley followed by another strike two hours later. The attack targeted critical infrastructure and residential areas, marking one of the deadliest single incidents in recent months. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the strike as a “ruthless attack” and vowed that those responsible would be held accountable.
The barrage is part of a broader escalation in Russia’s campaign against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Zelensky said Russia has carried out more than 170 strikes on important Ukrainian energy facilities since October, crippling power supplies across the country as winter approaches. The latest attack also hit the main government building in Kyiv, a symbolic target that underscores the Kremlin’s willingness to strike at the heart of Ukraine’s leadership. The strikes have raised fears of a humanitarian crisis, with officials warning that repeated damage to the power grid could leave millions without heat and electricity.
In addition to the casualties, a museum in Kyiv was damaged and will remain closed for several days while repairs are carried out. No one was injured at the museum, but the incident highlights the widespread impact of the attacks on civilian and cultural sites. The United Nations and Western allies have condemned the strikes as apparent violations of international humanitarian law, with some describing them as an escalation of aggression. The attacks come as Russia and Ukraine remain far apart in their terms for stopping the fighting, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts by international mediators.
The assault also included what Ukrainian officials described as the war’s largest drone attack, with swarms of Iranian-made drones targeting critical infrastructure. Russia’s use of drones alongside missiles is seen as a tactic to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses and deplete its stock of interceptor missiles. The international community has pledged additional air defense systems to Ukraine, but officials say more is needed to protect cities from such large-scale attacks. As the war enters a new phase, the latest strikes on Kyiv serve as a stark reminder of the human cost and the urgent need for a diplomatic resolution.
Shimanta Das 
