At least five people were killed and dozens injured after Russia launched a large-scale overnight missile and drone assault on several Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Dnipro and Kharkiv, early Tuesday.
The attacks came amid repeated warnings from Ukrainian officials that Moscow was preparing a major new wave of strikes, forcing residents across large parts of the country to seek shelter as air raid sirens sounded through the night.
In the eastern city of Dnipro, four people were killed and 16 others injured after Russian missiles struck residential areas, according to regional authorities. Images released by officials showed heavily damaged apartment buildings, charred vehicles and a destroyed children’s playground. All injured victims were hospitalised and reported to be in stable condition.
Ukraine’s capital Kyiv also came under intense attack. Authorities said at least one person was killed and 29 others were injured across different parts of the city.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said a missile strike hit a 24-storey residential building, causing part of the structure to collapse. Emergency crews were searching through the rubble amid fears that residents could still be trapped inside.
Several other buildings caught fire after being hit by falling missile debris. Fires were also reported in open areas, including near a kindergarten, while multiple vehicles were destroyed.
Thousands of Kyiv residents spent the night in metro stations, underground shelters and basements as air raid alerts remained active for hours.
Ukraine Warned of Larger Russian Offensive
The latest strikes followed warnings from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said intelligence agencies had detected preparations for a major Russian attack.
“Our intelligence continues to warn of possible large-scale strikes. Our defenders remain on alert around the clock,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly address.
Russia had earlier warned that it would carry out sustained attacks on military-related facilities and decision-making centres in Kyiv. Moscow claimed the planned operations were in response to a deadly attack in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region last month, which Ukraine has denied carrying out.
Kharkiv Also Targeted
In northeastern Ukraine, the city of Kharkiv was hit by a combination of missile and drone strikes. Local authorities said at least 10 people, including a child, were injured in the attacks.
The latest barrage underscores the continuing intensity of the war, which has now stretched into its fifth year since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Despite periodic diplomatic efforts, hopes for a negotiated settlement remain distant. Both Russia and Ukraine continue to trade attacks on critical infrastructure, while international attention has increasingly shifted toward escalating tensions in the Middle East.
With fresh strikes targeting major urban centres and fears of further escalation growing, Ukrainian authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and closely follow air raid warnings.