Russia has carried out its largest air attack on Ukraine to date, striking a key government building in Kyiv for the first time and killing at least three people, including a baby and an infant, according to Ukrainian officials.
The capital was bombarded with a large number of drones and missiles, injuring at least 18 people and setting many buildings on fire. Explosions were also reported in Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, and Kryvyi Rih. A nationwide air-raid alert was issued at 6:06 a.m. local time, and authorities accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians.
The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia used 805 combat drones, nine Iskander-K cruise missiles, and four Iskander-M ballistic missiles. Ukrainian forces intercepted four cruise missiles and 747 drones.
Smoke was seen rising from the roof of the Cabinet of Ministers building in Kyiv as firefighters battled flames on an upper floor. It was unclear whether the fire resulted from debris or a direct hit, which would mark an escalation in Russia’s air campaign. Government buildings in the city center had not been targeted before.
Ukraine’s Prime Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, confirmed the building was damaged for the first time in an enemy attack, affecting the roof and upper floors. She vowed to rebuild but emphasized that lost lives could not be restored. She called for stronger international sanctions, particularly on Russian oil and gas.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron to coordinate diplomatic efforts and ensure an appropriate response. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attacks as cowardly and accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of not being serious about peace.
Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s air force, confirmed this was the largest Russian drone strike since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. The attack included nine missile hits and 56 drone strikes across 37 locations, with debris falling in eight areas.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that an infant and a young woman were killed in the drone attacks, while a pregnant woman was among five people hospitalized. Later, it was reported that a mother and her three-month-old baby were killed by the pressure wave from a drone explosion. An elderly woman also died in a bomb shelter in the Darnytskyi district.
Residents were shocked by the attacks, emerging early Sunday to watch firefighters battle blazes and search for victims with thermal cameras. Falling debris, including glass and window blinds, was widespread. In the Sviatoshynskyi district, several floors of a nine-story residential building were partially destroyed, and drone debris sparked fires in a 16-story apartment building and two other structures.Thick smoke poured from apartment buildings, some with partially collapsed floors and crumbled facades, in photos shared by emergency officials on social media. The head of Kyiv’s military administration, Timur Tkachenko, stated on Telegram that Russia was “deliberately and consciously striking civilian targets.”
In Ukraine’s central city of Kremenchuk, dozens of explosions shook the area, cutting power to some neighborhoods, according to Mayor Vitalii Maletskyi on Telegram. Russian strikes also hit transport and urban infrastructure in Kryvyi Rih, in the same region, though no injuries were reported, said Oleksandr Vilkul, the local military administration head.
In the southern port city of Odesa, civilian infrastructure and residential buildings were damaged, with fires breaking out in several apartment blocks, regional governor Oleh Kiper reported on Telegram.
One person was killed in an attack on the northeastern Sumy region, local authorities confirmed. A separate strike on the outskirts of Putyvl village on Saturday injured several people, including a nine-year-old child, according to the region’s military governor, Oleh Hryhorov.
In southeastern Zaporizhzhia, at least 15 people were injured in a drone strike, some requiring hospitalization, said Ivan Fedorov, head of the regional military administration. He shared photos showing destroyed residential buildings.
Moscow did not immediately comment. Both sides deny intentionally targeting civilians, yet thousands have died in the conflict.
According to Russian sources, a Ukrainian drone strike caused a fire at the Ilsky oil refinery in the southern Krasnodar region, though it was quickly extinguished, a regional official reported. These claims could not be independently verified.
With western Ukraine under threat of air attacks, Poland activated its own and allied aircraft to ensure airspace security, the operational command of the Polish armed forces announced. “Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, while ground-based air defense and radar systems remain on high alert,” the statement said.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the event designed to be clear and helpful for a range of readers
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What happened
A major government building in Ukraine the Cabinet of Ministers building in Kyiv was hit and caught fire during a largescale Russian missile and drone attack
2 When did this happen
The attack occurred on December 29 2023 It was one of the largest aerial assaults of the entire war
3 Was anyone hurt
Tragically yes The attacks across Ukraine resulted in at least 30 fatalities and over 160 injuries The specific casualties from the cabinet building fire are part of that total
4 Why is this building significant
Its one of the most important government centers in Ukraine housing the offices of the Prime Minister and other key ministries that run the countrys daytoday operations
5 What was Russias goal in attacking it
The likely goals were to cripple the Ukrainian governments ability to function destroy critical infrastructure and terrorize the civilian population
IntermediateLevel Questions
6 How does this attack compare to others in the war
It is described as one of the largest and most intense aerial assaults involving a massive barrage of over 150 missiles and drones targeting cities across Ukraine not just Kyiv
7 What kind of weapons were used
Reports indicate a mix of various missiles including hypersonic Kinzhal missiles cruise missiles and Iranianmade Shahed drones
8 Was the Ukrainian air defense effective
Ukrainian forces reported shooting down a significant number of the incoming projectiles However due to the sheer scale and complexity of the attack many missiles got through and hit their targets
9 What does this say about the current state of the war
It highlights that despite Ukraines resilience Russia still possesses the capability to launch devastating largescale attacks deep inside the country aiming to overwhelm air defenses
AdvancedLevel Questions
10 What are the strategic implications of attacking a government building
Attacking a seat of government is often seen as an attempt to decapitate leadership and break the enemys command and control structure Its a significant escalation in terms of symbolic and psychological impact
11 How does international law view such an attack
International humanitarian law prohibits attacks on civilian
