At least nine people were killed and 33 injured in an overnight Russian missile barrage on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, local authorities reported on Thursday. The attack, which sent explosions echoing across the city, struck twelve locations in the Darnytskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, and Solomianskyi districts, damaging residential buildings, a medical facility, and an educational institution.
Emergency crews worked through the night to rescue residents trapped under the rubble. In the Solomianskyi district, the top two floors of a nine-storey apartment block were destroyed, and fires broke out on other floors. People were also trapped in two other residential buildings and in a school that was being used as a shelter.
Kyiv regional governor Tymur Tkachenko reported that an attack in the Brovary district, on the outskirts of the capital, killed one man and injured another. "One industrial facility has been damaged. All relevant services are on site, working to extinguish the fire," he said.
NATO allies respond
The strikes prompted immediate security responses from neighbouring NATO member states. Poland's military said it deployed aircraft and activated air defence systems to protect its airspace, particularly near the Ukrainian border. Romania's Defence Ministry reported that radar detected aerial targets near the border, leading to the scrambling of two Spanish fighter jets on NATO missions and a Romanian Air Force helicopter.
Russia has intensified its ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv in an effort to deplete Ukraine's air defence stocks. Ukraine has limited systems capable of intercepting ballistic threats, and supplies of missiles for its US-made Patriot systems remain constrained. This vulnerability is a growing concern for European allies, who have been supporting Ukraine's defence while also monitoring their own airspace security.
In response, Ukraine has stepped up long-range strikes on weapons depots, military facilities, and other strategic targets inside Russia, aiming to weaken Moscow's ability to continue its attacks on Ukrainian cities. Moscow authorities claimed that around 250 drones targeted the region overnight, with most intercepted at a significant distance from the Russian capital.
The attack on Kyiv comes amid a broader pattern of Russian strikes on Ukrainian urban centres. Earlier this week, a Russian strike in the Kharkiv region killed at least 10 people, according to the regional governor. The repeated assaults have strained Ukraine's air defence resources and underscored the need for continued international support.
European leaders have reiterated their commitment to Ukraine's defence. The UK has pledged unwavering support for Ukraine despite Russian threats, and the EU has been working to accelerate ammunition production and delivery. However, the recent decision by US President Donald Trump to reverse authorisation for Ukraine to obtain licences to manufacture Patriot systems has raised concerns about future supply reliability.
As the war enters another winter, the human cost continues to mount. The overnight attack on Kyiv is a stark reminder of the ongoing threat to civilian lives and infrastructure. European nations, while not directly involved in the conflict, are closely watching the situation, with some suspecting Russian vessels of spying on Europe's undersea infrastructure, adding another layer of tension to the region's security landscape.
