Russia Launches Major Overnight Attack on Ukraine, Killing at Least Eight
Quick Look
- Russia launched a major overnight attack across Ukraine, killing at least eight people and injuring dozens.
- Kyiv and Dnipro were heavily hit, with apartment buildings struck in the capital.
- The attacks follow Russian warnings of retaliation for a drone strike in Luhansk.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Russia launched a major overnight attack on cities across Ukraine, including Kyiv and Dnipro, resulting in at least eight deaths and dozens of injuries. This follows Russian warnings of retaliation for a drone attack on a dormitory in Luhansk. Ukraine's President Zelensky had warned of a possible large Russian strike.
At least eight people have been killed and dozens more have been injured after Russia launched a major overnight attack on cities across Ukraine.
Five people were killed in Dnipro and 25 were injured. Three people were killed in Kyiv, where at least 51 were injured following the strikes in the early hours of Tuesday, with 35 of those in hospital.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said two high-rise apartment buildings had been hit in the city and there are fears people are trapped under rubble.
Moscow last week warned it would launch "systematic strikes" on Ukraine in response to a drone attack last month on a dormitory in Ukraine's Russian-held Luhansk region which killed 21 people.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has urged people to stay in shelters. The head of Kyiv's City Military Administration, Tymur Tkachenko, said: "The enemy is striking with ballistic missiles."
Air raid warnings were in place across most of Ukraine. Large plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the centre of Kyiv.
In Russia, the Krasnodar Krai emergency response centre reported a fire at the Ilsky Oil Refinery following a drone attack. There were no casualties, according to the emergency service.
As the Russian attacks hit Kyiv through the early morning, the buzz of drones could be heard between more than a dozen loud explosions as strikes made impact.
Blackouts and fires have also been reported across the city and the wider extent of damage is not yet clear.
The attacks come after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday reiterated warnings of a possible large Russian strike and urged residents to pay special attention to air raid alerts.
"Intelligence warnings regarding Russian strikes remain in effect. A massive strike is possible, they have prepared one," Zelensky said in his nightly video address.
Last week Russia said it would target military and decision-making centres in Kyiv, and urged foreigners to leave the city in what it said was a response to Ukraine deliberately striking a dormitory in Strabolinsk.
In a statement at the time, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said it did carry out an attack near Starobilsk on the night of 21-22 May, but maintains that it struck a Russian military unit.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Further retaliatory strikes from Russia or Ukraine.
Likely · Within days
Increased international condemnation of Russia's actions.
Very likely · Within days
Open Questions
- What is the full extent of the damage across Ukraine?
- Will there be further retaliatory strikes from either side?
- What specific military and decision-making centers did Russia claim to target in Kyiv?
- What is the status of individuals potentially trapped under rubble in Kyiv?
