Overview
- The Russian strikes, which hit Kyiv on Thursday night, produced dozens of explosions, damaged multiple residential districts and struck medical and educational facilities.
- Ukrainian officials gave varying casualty figures as rescue operations continued, reporting multiple civilian deaths and dozens of wounded with counts updated through the morning.
- Rescuers freed people trapped in shelters and damaged buildings and firefighters battled several blazes while air‑raid alerts and warnings about incoming ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones were issued nationwide.
- Poland launched preventive military air operations to protect its airspace and Sevastopol on occupied Crimea experienced temporary power cuts after attacks on energy infrastructure.
- Analysts and Ukrainian officials say the raids reflect an escalation in long‑range and ballistic strikes that exploit shortages of interceptors for systems such as Patriot, a pressure that could leave more cities vulnerable and shape future Western aid requests.