Russia Kills 16, Including Child, in Kyiv Drone/Missile Strikes Thursday

Russian forces launched a series of drone and missile strikes overnight on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, resulting in 16 deaths, including a 12-year-old child, and numerous injuries, officials reported on Thursday. The attacks represent the deadliest assault on the Ukrainian capital this year.

Fires raged in parts of Kyiv, sending plumes of black smoke into the night sky as firefighters worked to contain the blazes. Residents and emergency personnel spent the morning clearing debris from heavily damaged buildings throughout the city. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that four people, including the child, died in the capital. Regional officials reported nine fatalities in Odesa and two in Dnipro, where Russian attacks ignited residential buildings.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that the attacks demonstrated Russia's unworthiness of eased global policy or sanctions relief, noting that 100 people were wounded in addition to those killed. "There can be no normalisation of Russia as it is today. Pressure on Russia must work. And it is important to fulfil every promise of assistance to Ukraine on time," he said. According to the air force, Ukrainian units intercepted or neutralized 31 missiles and 636 drones, but 12 missiles and 20 drones struck targets in the 24 hours leading up to 7 a.m. (5 a.m. Irish time) on Thursday.

Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba indicated that rescue operations were ongoing and the death toll could increase. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged the international community to take action, stating on X, "All decisions required to increase pressure on the aggressor must be unblocked now. It is immoral, counterproductive, and dangerous to delay sanctions against Russia or packages of support for Ukraine." Klitschko reported another attack on Kyiv early Thursday, noting that a drone struck an 18-story building. Prosecutors placed the number of injured in Kyiv at 54. Klitschko added that rescue teams had rescued a mother and child from a building in a central district.