Russia Launches Ballistic Missile Strike on Kyiv, Mayor Confirms Explosions Across Capital

Russia carried out a fresh ballistic missile attack on Ukraines capital, Kyiv, early Thursday, prompting air raid sirens, explosions, and emergency response efforts across the city, according to local authorities. Ukrainian officials urged residents to remain in shelters as air defence systems attempted to intercept the incoming missiles.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said explosions were heard in several districts after ballistic missiles were launched toward the capital. Emergency crews were deployed to affected areas where damage to buildings and infrastructure was reported. Initial official reports indicated that at least one person was killed and several others were injured, while authorities continued to assess the full extent of the destruction.

The missile barrage was part of a wider overnight assault that also targeted several other Ukrainian cities, including Kryvyi Rih and Lviv. In Kryvyi Rih, a missile strike hit a residential area, causing multiple fatalities and injuries, while buildings in Lviv also sustained damage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had warned just hours earlier that intelligence suggested Russia was preparing a large-scale missile offensive. Following the attack, he renewed calls for Ukraines international partners to accelerate deliveries of advanced air defence systems, particularly Patriot missile interceptors, which Kyiv says are critical for countering ballistic missile threats. The latest strikes come as fighting between Russia and Ukraine continues to intensify. Alongside defending against missile attacks, Ukraine has also stepped up long-range drone operations targeting military and energy infrastructure inside Russia, highlighting the increasingly cross-border nature of the conflict.

The renewed attacks also prompted neighbouring Poland to scramble fighter aircraft and place its air defence systems on heightened alert as a precaution due to the proximity of the strikes to its border. The war, now in its fifth year since Russias full-scale invasion began in 2022, continues to exact a heavy humanitarian toll. Repeated missile and drone attacks have damaged homes, public infrastructure, and essential services, forcing civilians to seek shelter as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict remain stalled.

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