Russia's biggest Ukraine attack in weeks as war escalates; where do peace talks stand?

Moscow: Russia launched one of its biggest overnight missile and drone attacks on Kyiv on Thursday, killing at least eight people and injuring more than 30 as explosions rocked the Ukrainian capital and strikes damaged homes and civilian infrastructure across the city.

According to Ukrainian officials, Russia fired a combination of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones in a coordinated assault that lasted for hours. Air raid sirens forced thousands of residents to seek refuge in metro stations as air defence systems attempted to intercept the incoming projectiles.

Kyiv City Military Administration chief Tymur Tkachenko said damage was reported at 28 locations, primarily affecting residential buildings and civilian infrastructure. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least 34 people were injured, including emergency responders, while search-and-rescue operations continued in several parts of the capital.

Residential buildings among hardest hit

The attack affected all 10 districts of Kyiv, with multiple apartment buildings sustaining heavy damage.

Officials said a residential building in the Desnianskyi district was partially destroyed, trapping people beneath the rubble. In the Darnytskyi district, six floors of a nine-storey apartment block collapsed after a direct strike, while another residential building also suffered extensive damage.

Fires broke out in several districts, including Holosiivskyi, where flames engulfed the roof of a high-rise building, and Sviatoshynskyi, where private homes caught fire. Emergency services also reported damage to a hotel and residential buildings in the Shevchenkivskyi district.

Rescue teams continued searching collapsed structures for survivors as emergency crews worked to extinguish fires and clear debris.

Residents spend night in shelters

Mayor Vitali Klitschko described the bombardment as a "furious enemy attack" and urged residents to remain in shelters until authorities declared the situation safe.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had issued warnings before the strikes began, prompting many families to spend the night in underground metro stations.

Neighbouring Poland, a NATO member, briefly scrambled fighter aircraft as a precaution before later confirming that no Russian missiles or drones had entered its airspace.

Russia steps up pressure on Kyiv

The latest assault comes as Russia intensifies its aerial campaign against Ukraine's capital. In recent weeks, Moscow has increased the frequency of large-scale missile and drone attacks targeting Kyiv and other major cities.

The escalation follows a series of long-range Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian military bases, logistics hubs and energy infrastructure, which have disrupted fuel supplies and supply chains inside Russia.

Analysts say the latest barrage reflects Moscow's strategy of increasing military pressure on Ukraine by targeting urban centres and critical civilian infrastructure while responding to Ukraine's expanding capability to strike deep inside Russian territory.

Despite repeated international calls for a ceasefire, both Russia and Ukraine have continued to expand their long-range attacks, signalling that the conflict remains far from de-escalation.