At least 18 people have lost their lives and over 90 others have been hurt following a major Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, on Thursday, July 2, according to Ukrainian officials.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia launched more than 70 missiles and approximately 500 drones during the overnight attack.
The air force confirmed that while most of the drones were intercepted, about a quarter of the missiles hit targets in and around the capital.
Over 20 locations in Kyiv were damaged, including residential buildings, a hotel, a research institute, and an ambulance station.
Emergency services are still searching through the wreckage for survivors, with rescue efforts ongoing in multiple areas of the city.
Air raid alarms rang for several hours, and explosions were heard throughout the city as air defenses fought to counter the incoming weapons.
Authorities said that many residents took shelter in underground metro stations, where families spent the night on the platforms as attacks continued.
Zelenskyy, who was on a diplomatic visit to Ireland, ended his trip early after receiving information that an attack was about to happen.
He called on citizens to stay in shelters and take necessary precautions as the attacks took place.
The attack occurs during an increasing pattern of long-range warfare between the two countries.
Russia claimed the strikes were in response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil facilities, which Moscow says have led to fuel shortages and disrupted parts of its energy grid.
The defense ministry said the targets included military and energy sites in Kyiv and other cities, while Ukraine argued that Russia keeps hitting civilian infrastructure, pointing to repeated damage in residential areas of the capital.
The latest attack shows how challenging it is for air defense systems.
Officials explained that although drones can often be intercepted with mobile units and less expensive systems, ballistic and cruise missiles are much harder to stop.
Zelenskyy has repeatedly asked for more Western air defense help, especially Patriot systems, which are essential for protecting cities from missile attacks.
He also noted that Ukraine is improving its own interception abilities, but stressed that more foreign support is urgently needed.
At the same time, Ukraine has increased its long-range drone operations, targeting military and energy infrastructure deep inside Russia, including oil refineries and storage sites.
Local officials said these strikes aim to reduce Russia’s ability to continue the war, while Moscow has called them acts of escalation.As rescue teams work through the debris in the capital, officials warned
that the final number of casualties might still go up.
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