Russian strike sets Kyiv residential buildings ablaze
A large-scale Russian aerial assault struck Kyiv early Tuesday, igniting residential buildings, damaging civilian infrastructure and forcing thousands of residents to seek shelter in metro stations and underground bunkers. The attack came days after Moscow warned it would begin carrying out systematic strikes against military-related targets and decision-making centers in the Ukrainian capital.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said a suspected missile strike hit a 24-story apartment building, causing a partial collapse and raising fears that residents could be trapped beneath the rubble. Emergency crews were deployed to multiple locations across the city as fires broke out in several districts. In Podil, flames engulfed a non-residential structure, while a nine-story residential building caught fire after debris struck its roof. Additional fires were reported in Obolon, where missile fragments ignited parked vehicles and areas near a kindergarten.
Initial reports indicated that at least four people were injured in Kyiv. Elsewhere in Ukraine, Russian overnight shelling targeted the northeastern Kharkiv region, where at least six people were wounded, including an 11-year-old girl. Local authorities said emergency services remained active throughout the night to respond to damage and assist affected residents.
The latest assault followed a warning issued by Russia last week that it intended to conduct regular strikes against targets in Kyiv. Moscow described the move as retaliation for a drone attack on a dormitory in Russian-controlled Luhansk that killed 21 people. Ukrainian authorities denied any involvement in that incident. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov formally communicated the decision to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on May 25, according to Russian officials.
Washington cautioned Moscow against implementing such attacks, warning that intensified strikes could lead to additional civilian casualties and further undermine already fragile prospects for a negotiated settlement. The renewed escalation has increased international concern about the trajectory of the conflict as diplomatic efforts remain stalled.
Tuesday's strike came shortly after another major Russian drone operation conducted overnight between May 31 and June 1. Ukrainian authorities said Russia launched 265 combat drones, of which 228 were intercepted by air defenses. That attack killed one person in Kherson and injured more than twenty others across the country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had warned on Monday evening that intelligence assessments pointed to an imminent large-scale attack. He stated that Russian forces appeared to be preparing a significant operation against Ukraine. As the war enters its fifth year, both sides continue to intensify military actions while peace initiatives show little progress. International attention has also become increasingly divided as other global crises compete for diplomatic focus.
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