Russian missile barrage hits Kyiv residential areas, killing 12 and injuring 33

Kyiv: A Russian missile barrage struck Kyiv overnight into Thursday, killing at least 12 people and injuring 33, according to Ukrainian authorities and emergency services.

Explosions were heard across the capital throughout the night as the air raid alert remained active into the early morning.

The strikes hit 12 locations across the Darnytskyi, Sviatoshynskyi and Solomianskyi districts. Residential buildings, a medical facility and an educational institution were among the sites damaged.

Emergency crews searched through the rubble and rescued people trapped inside damaged buildings.

Residential buildings badly damaged

The Solomianskyi district suffered some of the most serious damage.

The top two floors of a nine-storey residential building were destroyed, while fires broke out on other floors. People were also reported trapped in two residential buildings and a school shelter.

Residents described scenes of smoke, fire and debris following the strikes.

Larysa Bondaruk, 60, was seen holding her cat, Chanel, after firefighters rescued the animal. She said her neighbour's grandson had been trapped under the rubble and died, while her own apartment was badly damaged.

Kyiv's air defences under pressure

The attack comes as Russia has intensified ballistic missile strikes against Kyiv.

The city has limited systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, while Ukraine continues to face shortages of interceptor missiles for its US-made Patriot air-defence systems.

The pressure on Ukraine's air defences has become a major factor in Russia's ability to strike major cities with missiles and drones.

The United States had previously authorised Ukraine to obtain licences to produce Patriot air-defence systems, although that decision was later reversed, according to the report.

Ukraine steps up strikes inside Russia

Ukraine has also intensified its long-range attacks against targets inside Russian territory.

Ukrainian strikes have targeted weapons depots, military facilities and other strategic sites in an effort to disrupt Russia's ability to sustain attacks against Ukrainian cities.

The escalation reflects the continuing cycle of long-range attacks between the two sides, with both Russia and Ukraine seeking to weaken the other's military infrastructure and ability to conduct sustained operations.

A deadly night in Kyiv

The latest attack caused widespread damage across several parts of the Ukrainian capital, with emergency workers continuing rescue and recovery operations after the strikes.

The death toll and injuries underscore the continuing danger faced by civilians as Russia maintains missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian cities.

The latest barrage also highlights the importance of Ukraine's air-defence capacity, particularly its limited ability to intercept ballistic missile threats.

The Kyiv attack comes amid continued pressure on Ukraine's air-defence network.

Russia's use of ballistic missiles presents a particularly difficult challenge because Ukraine has fewer systems capable of intercepting them than it has systems designed to counter other aerial threats.

Patriot systems are among Ukraine's most important defences against ballistic missiles, but interceptor supplies remain limited. This makes the availability of air-defence missiles an important factor in Kyiv's ability to protect densely populated areas.

At the same time, Ukraine has increasingly used long-range weapons to strike military and strategic targets inside Russia. The objective is to disrupt weapons supplies and infrastructure supporting Russian attacks.

The latest Kyiv barrage therefore illustrates the continuing escalation of long-range warfare, with civilian areas remaining vulnerable despite extensive air-defence efforts.