At least 13 killed after 'most massive' assault on Ukrainian capital since Russia's invasion

IN BRIEF

Russian airstrikes on Kyiv have killed at least 13 and injured 86, according to the Ukrainian capital's mayor.

Ukraine has also recently stepped up long-range drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure and military targets.

Russian missile and drone strikes tore open apartment buildings in Kyiv early Thursday, killing at least 13 people and wounding dozens in what the city's mayor said was the biggest ever attack on the Ukrainian capital.

While Russia has routinely launched waves of missiles and drones at Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, during its more than four-year invasion, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said the overnight attack was the "most massive" in that time.

"Tomorrow, July 3, is declared a Day of Mourning in Kyiv, in memory of the victims of the enemy's most massive attack on the capital," Klitschko said on social media, as rescuers were still sifting through the rubble of a destroyed apartment building.

Klitschko said at least 13 people had been killed, with 86 wounded.

Journalists from the Agence-France Press (AFP) news agency in central and eastern Kyiv heard more than a dozen explosions and saw residents — some with children and pets — rushing to shelter in metro stations.

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In the morning, locals stood on the rubble of destroyed apartment blocks, ripped open by the barrage, as smoke poured over the Kyiv skyline.

Blasts started echoing out over the Ukrainian capital late on Wednesday, lasting into the early hours of Thursday as Russian missiles and drones rained down on residential areas in the centre of the city.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had earlier warned that Russia was preparing a "massive attack" and urged citizens to take extra care.

"I urge our people to be especially careful, to protect themselves, their children, and, of course, their families; to use shelters and heed air raid alerts in Ukraine — this is very important," he told a news conference.

He said Russian President Vladimir Putin "has been preparing this massive strike against Ukraine for some time now".

Ukraine has also stepped up long-range drone attacks inside Russia in recent weeks, targeting energy infrastructure and military targets.

Russian officials have reported repeated strikes in border regions, while Moscow has said its air defences had intercepted hundreds of drones from Ukraine in recent days.

Russia's defence ministry confirmed on Thursday it had launched a "massive strike" on Kyiv in what it called a retaliation to the Ukrainian counter-attacks.

Russia fired 496 drones and 74 missiles — including hard-to-intercept ballistic projectiles — Ukraine's air force said.

It said it shot down 48 of the missiles and 476 drones.

Ukraine urges more support, Patriot license

Following the attack, Ukrainian officials sent requests for military aid to the country's allies, with Zelenskyy asking the United States for licences to manufacture Patriot air defence missiles.

"Air defence supplies for Ukraine are an absolute and critical priority ... We also very much count on a decision by the United States regarding licences for Patriots and other forms of cooperation," Zelenskyy said in a post on Facebook on Thursday.

Ukrainian foreign minister Andriy Sybiga wrote on social media that allies must "not delay decisions on air defense for Ukraine!"

"This is our main request to our partners after Kyiv suffered a night of horror," he wrote.

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