Ukraine conflict: Russia launches major attack on Kyiv, 23 injured
Tension gripped Kyiv on Friday after Russia attacked the Ukrainian city with a record 550 drones and 11 missiles.
According to media reports, 23 people were injured in the attack.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared updates on the strike and wrote on X: "This was one of the most large-scale air attacks – deliberately massive and cynical. In total, 550 targets were launched, including at least 330 Russian-Iranian 'shaheds', along with missiles, including ballistic ones."
"Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror. Only around 9 a.m. today did the air raid alert end in Kyiv. It was a brutal, sleepless night," he said.
He said Kyiv was the main target of the Russia attack.
"Our warriors managed to shoot down 270 aerial targets, while another 208 drones were jammed by electronic warfare. Interceptor drones have started operating – dozens of drones were taken down," he said.
Zelenskyy said, "In total, today's Russian strike affected not only Kyiv but also the Dnipro, Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Kyiv regions. As of now, 23 people are known to have been wounded. Everyone is receiving assistance. There are many sites where drone and missile debris fell. Sadly, there were also direct hits."
Firefighting efforts and debris removal are still ongoing after another Russian strike. This was one of the most large-scale air attacks – deliberately massive and cynical. In total, 550 targets were launched, including at least 330 Russian-Iranian “shaheds”, along with missiles,… pic.twitter.com/vnn31oST0z
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 4, 2025
The Ukraine-Russia war is going on for the past three years now since Moscow invaded the country in 2022.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, meanwhile, announced the country's consulate was damaged in the strike.
He wrote on X: "In a massive racist attack on Kiev, the building of the consular section of our embassy was damaged."
W zmasowanym raszystowskim ataku na Kijów ucierpiał budynek wydziału konsularnego naszej ambasady.
— Radosław Sikorski 🇵🇱🇪🇺 (@sikorskiradek) July 4, 2025
Właśnie rozmawiałem z ambasadorem Łukasiewiczem; Wszyscy są cali i zdrowi.
Ukraina pilnie potrzebuje środków obrony przeciwlotniczej.
Civilian casualties and violations in Ukraine have significantly escalated in recent months, including a sharp rise in often deadly drone attacks, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said in a report published in June.
It covers the period from 1 December 2024 to 31 May 2025, during which 986 civilians were killed and 4,807 injured – a 37 per cent increase compared to the same period the previous year.
“The war in Ukraine – now in its fourth year – is becoming increasingly deadly for civilians,” said Danielle Bell, Head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU).
“We continue to document patterns of violence that are inconsistent with obligations under international humanitarian law.”
