Russian missiles and drones have been pounding Ukraine for a second straight day, with near-constant heavy attacks hitting the country. Kyiv has taken the worst of it, with at least eight people killed—including a 13-year-old—and 44 others injured in the capital.
The overnight strikes followed intense daytime raids on Wednesday, which involved missiles and drones across the country and ranked among the longest single attacks of the war.
“As of now, five people have been reported killed in Kyiv from last night’s Russian attack,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on social media. “There must be a fair response to all these strikes,” he added, saying he had ordered Ukraine’s armed forces to prepare options for retaliation.
The assault began at 3 a.m. on Thursday, with Moscow launching hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles as explosions echoed through Kyiv. Water and power supplies were disrupted in the eastern part of the city.
The scale and intensity of the Russian attacks seemed to contradict claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine was near. Those claims followed recent remarks by Russian President Vladimir Putin that the war might be coming to an end.
Ukraine’s air force said the latest attack involved 56 missiles of various types and nearly 700 drones.
Separately, Ukraine reported that Russian drones struck a UN vehicle in the southern city of Kherson on Thursday.
Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said a large apartment block had collapsed in the Darnytskyi district. “Eighteen apartments have been destroyed. A rescue and search operation is ongoing. According to early information, 11 people have been rescued from the building,” he told local media.
“Forty people have been injured in the capital from the enemy’s large-scale attack. Among them are two children. Thirty-one of the injured have been taken to hospital, including one child,” the mayor added.
Ukraine’s interior minister, Ihor Klymenko, said “more than 10 people are still believed to be missing” from the attack.
Wednesday’s daytime raids killed at least 14 people and injured more than 80 others. They appeared to include “double-tap” strikes aimed at first responders who arrived at attack sites, and also hit about two dozen locations tied to Ukraine’s railway system and other critical infrastructure.
After strikes in western Ukraine near the Hungarian border, Hungary summoned Russia’s ambassador on Thursday. This was a clear sign of the shift brought by the election of Prime Minister Péter Magyar, following years of close ties between Budapest and Moscow under his predecessor Viktor Orbán.
The scale of the recent raids has led to warnings that Russia is trying to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defense systems by swarming them with drones and missiles.
In a late afternoon post on Wednesday, Zelenskyy described the raids as “one of the longest and most massive Russian attacks against Ukraine,” suggesting Moscow’s goal was to spoil the “political atmosphere” during Trump’s visit to China.
He added that Ukraine’s intelligence had assessed that Moscow was trying to overwhelm Kyiv’s air defenses through the scale and intensity of the attacks, aiming to cause “as much grief and pain as possible.”
The attacks followed Trump’s latest claims of progress in negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow, which were made on Wednesday with few details and echoed earlier unfounded statements.
“The end of the war in Ukraine I really think is getting very close,” the U.S. president told reporters as he left the White House for a summit in Beijing. “Believe it or not, it’s getting closer.”
His comments follow similar remarks from Putin.In a speech last weekend, Putin suggested that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine might be coming to an end. The attacks occurred as Ukraine’s position on the battlefield seemed to have been improving in recent months. Ukraine has shifted from asking for international help with its defense to offering other countries advice on how to counter attacks, thanks to its own drone technology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the second day of largescale Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine written in a natural tone with clear concise answers
BeginnerLevel Questions
Q What happened in Ukraine over the last two days
A Russia launched a second day of massive missile and drone attacks across Ukraine This follows a similar largescale attack the day before targeting energy infrastructure and cities
Q Why is Russia attacking Ukraine again
A These attacks are part of Russias ongoing war strategy to damage Ukraines power grid disrupt daily life and weaken the countrys ability to fight
Q Are these attacks different from the ones in the first year of the war
A Yes they are similar in scale but often use a wider mix of cheap drones and advanced missiles to overwhelm Ukraines air defenses
Q What is being targeted
A The main targets are energy facilities and critical infrastructure but residential areas and city centers are often hit as well
Q Is Ukraine able to defend against these attacks
A Partially Ukraine uses Westernsupplied air defense systems to shoot down many missiles and drones but not all get intercepted especially if they are launched in large waves
Intermediate Advanced Questions
Q How does a second day of largescale attacks differ from a single day
A A second day is more dangerous because Ukraines air defense systems may be low on ammo from the first day It also puts more stress on emergency services and the power grid which hasnt had time to fully recover
Q What types of weapons are being used in these attacks
A Russia is using a combination of Shahed drones and cruise missiles launched from planes ships and ground launchers Sometimes they also use ballistic missiles which are harder to intercept
Q Why does Russia keep targeting the energy grid
A Its a strategic goal By destroying power plants and transformers Russia aims to cause blackouts in winter disrupt hospitals and water pumps and force Ukraine to spend resources on repairs instead of the front lines
Q Can Ukraine predict where these attacks will hit
