A Russian missile struck a residential building in Kyiv as part of a massive overnight offensive launched by Moscow on Tuesday. The attack, which has left at least 15 people dead, was described by President Volodymyr Zelensky as one of the most devastating assaults the Ukrainian capital has suffered since the war began.
Video footage captured the exact moment a ballistic missile hit a nine-story apartment block in the Solomianskyi district, completely demolishing a section of the building and leaving a pile of rubble. A crane was later used to retrieve bodies from the wreckage.
According to Reuters, the Russian strike involved more than 440 drones and 32 missiles, most of them targeting civilian infrastructure. Air raid sirens began shortly after midnight, and explosions continued well into the early morning hours. Ukrainian air defenses were actively engaged in intercepting the attacks.
Authorities reported that at least 27 areas across Kyiv were hit. The bombardment damaged residential buildings, schools, and critical infrastructure. A separate video released on Tuesday showed a Russian drone heading directly toward a residential building before exploding on impact.
Among the victims was a 62-year-old American citizen, confirmed Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. “He died in an apartment across from where medical services were attending to the wounded,” Klitschko stated via Telegram.
Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to President Zelensky, condemned the strikes and accused Moscow of deliberately targeting civilians. “Russia continues its war against civilians,” Yermak wrote on social media.
This latest wave of violence comes amid a diplomatic stalemate in efforts to broker a ceasefire. The United States is attempting to revive negotiations, but Moscow has rejected a Ukrainian and European-backed proposal for an “unconditional” truce. The Ukrainian government, in turn, has dismissed Russia’s demands as “unacceptable ultimatums.”
Zelensky had expressed a desire to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada. However, the meeting did not take place, as Trump left the summit early amid rising global tensions stemming from conflicts in both Ukraine and the Middle East.
The attacks on Kyiv are part of a sustained Russian bombing campaign that continues to target not only military facilities but also residential areas and essential services, further deepening the suffering of the civilian population.