Russian Drone Strikes Spark Fires in Kyiv, Fears of Missile Attacks Loom
Russian drones struck the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv in the early hours of Friday, setting multiple residential buildings ablaze and prompting urgent warnings of potential ballistic missile strikes. The coordinated aerial assault forced emergency power shutdowns and left at least three people injured, as Ukraine’s air defences scrambled to repel the wave of attacks.
Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, confirmed that the drones had “approached the city in waves,” hitting several districts across the capital. “The situation remains tense. There is also a risk that ballistic missiles could be deployed against the city,” he said during a morning briefing.
Residents across Kyiv were jolted awake by loud explosions as air raid sirens blared throughout the night. According to reports from Reuters and local authorities, thick plumes of smoke were seen rising from multiple sites, including high-rise apartments and public buildings.
One of the worst-hit areas was the Darnytskyi district on the city’s east side, where a Russian drone slammed into a high-rise residential tower, sparking a massive fire. Emergency crews rushed to the site and began evacuating residents as flames engulfed several floors. Authorities have warned that power cuts are likely to continue in the district due to infrastructure damage.
Unconfirmed reports from local Telegram channels also claimed that a shopping centre had caught fire during the attack. While officials have not verified this, several other neighbourhoods in Kyiv’s western regions reported fires and falling drone debris. Tkachenko said drone fragments were found scattered across at least three different areas.
“The full extent of the damage is still being assessed,” he added. “We are currently compiling details on property destruction and possible additional casualties.”
The attack on Kyiv comes amid growing tensions and escalating military operations between Russia and Ukraine. Just days earlier, Ukraine reportedly used drones to strike Russian bomber aircraft at airbases in Siberia and the far north. Ukrainian forces were also blamed by Moscow for sabotage operations in southern Russia, including an explosion on a railway bridge that killed seven people.
In response, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov signaled that Russia will retaliate at a time and place of its choosing. “The president described the Kyiv regime as a terrorist regime,” Peskov told reporters during his daily briefing. “This is nothing other than terrorism at the state level.”
The conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has intensified in recent weeks with both sides stepping up drone warfare and battlefield operations. Analysts warn that the latest attacks could mark a dangerous new phase in the war, with growing risks for civilian populations on both sides.
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