RUSSIA carried out a major overnight aerial assault on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, launching hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles in one of the deadliest strikes on the city this year.
Ukrainian authorities said at least 17 people were killed and more than 90 others injured, after drones and missiles struck residential neighbourhoods and caused significant destruction across multiple districts. A nine-storey apartment building was partially brought down in the attack.
Emergency services reported ongoing rescue operations as survivors were pulled from rubble, while videos showed firefighters and rescue teams working through debris in heavily damaged areas of the city.
Reuters cited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warning in advance of a possible new wave of Russian strikes, while Moscow said the attack was aimed at military, energy infrastructure and airports in retaliation for Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian territory.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said President Vladimir Putin had been briefed on the operation and reiterated that Russia would continue to intensify pressure on Ukraine to achieve its objectives. He also accused European countries of escalating tensions in the conflict.
The escalation came as the European Union transferred €3.9 billion in funding to Ukraine to support defence procurement, including drones, as part of a broader multi-year loan package designed to cover a significant portion of Ukraine’s financing needs during the war.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko declared a day of mourning on Friday, saying damage was recorded across the city of around three million residents, with widespread destruction to residential buildings and infrastructure.
Residents described scenes of chaos and devastation during the overnight bombardment, with some reporting entire homes destroyed and emergency services overwhelmed as explosions rocked the capital. - July 2, 2026
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