Russia launches major attack on Kyiv after Zelensky warning

Russia launched a barrage of drone and missile strikes on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv overnight Thursday, killing more than a dozen civilians.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said 18 people were killed and injured more than 90 others in the latest round of attacks, according to The Associated Press.

The strikes came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, citing new intelligence, warned that Russia was planning to launch a massive attack on his country.

“We know that Putin has been preparing a massive strike against Ukraine for some time,” Zelensky wrote on social platform X, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “That is exactly the threat we are facing tonight. Russia’s head is completely refusing to end the war.”

He sounded the alarm after a Ukrainian drone hit a major communications center in Moscow. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov slammed the attack, saying three civilians were injured and a 6-month-ago baby was killed, the AP reported.

Russia’s Defense Ministry also said its attack on Kyiv was in response to Ukrainian strikes on the nation’s civilian infrastructure, according to the news wire. In recent weeks, Ukraine has targeted Russian oil refineries in an attempt to bring Putin to the negotiating table.

Also Thursday, Zelensky wrote online that the response to the Russian attack on Kyiv “is still ongoing,” with first responders clearing rubble, searching for survivors and providing assistance.

He added that Russia launched more than 70 missiles, with nearly half of those being ballistic missiles. The Russian military also launched nearly 500 attack drones, per the Ukrainian leader.

Noting that his military’s air defenders were able to shoot down a “significant number” of incoming targets but not all of them, Zelensky urged the U.S. and other countries to provide Ukraine with anti-ballistic missiles.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said Wednesday his country signed a contract for hundreds of PAC-2 and PAC-3 interceptor missiles with Germany’s support, according to the Ukrainian National News Agency.

Zelensky also said Thursday that his people “very much count on” the Trump administration allowing Ukraine to build Patriot missiles within its own borders.

“These are the kinds of steps that can stop this war and prevent attacks like this. I thank everyone who stands with Ukraine, with our people, and with our efforts to protect life,” he concluded.