Russian Missiles Kill at Least 13 in Kyiv as Air Defenses Falter

A Russian missile barrage swept over Kyiv overnight, killing at least 13 civilians and leaving roughly 40 injured, Ukrainian sources reported on Thursday. The sustained assault represents another escalation targeting the capital as Moscow probes Russia’s increasingly strained air defence systems.

Brutal explosions rocked the city just before midnight, launching the first salvo of ballistic missiles. Reports say detonations shook deep underground, striking a subway station where thousands took shelter before erecting temporary shelters amidst the chaos.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko posted on social media that multiple districts suffered structural damage and that emergency crews were mobilising. He warned that additional missiles remained en route toward the heart of the nation.

President Volodymyr Zelensky characterised the operation as a “massive attack,” noting that Russia had prepared a sophisticated campaign involving ballistic missiles, cruise rockets, and drones aimed at crippling civilian infrastructure.

Official statements from Ukrainian authorities highlighted strikes on food warehouses, Red Cross facilities, as well as damage to a children’s hospital, a school, and residential homes. Emergency responders released imagery describing gutted structures with shattered windows.

Zelensky reiterated his appeal for heightened Western support, specifically urging the provision of American‑made Patriot interceptors—now regarded as the nation’s most reliable barrier against ballistic missiles.

Analysts caution that deteriorating defences have aggravated civilian loss of life; United Nations data indicates nearly 1,400 Ukrainians were killed in the first half of the current year—a 37 percent rise versus the same period last year and more than double the previous‑year figure.

Observers note a shift in Russian tactics: where earlier campaigns relied on overwhelming waves of long‑range drones, recent attacks concentrate payloads in consecutive missile salvoes, likely reflecting growing confidence that Ukrainian air systems cannot stem the threat.

Kim Barker contributed reporting.

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