Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and its surroundings in the early hours of Monday, hours before the NATO summit to be held in Ankara. The attacks, which began after midnight, killed at least 11 people and wounded 56.
Kyiv city military administration head Timur Tkachenko reported that at least 10 people were killed and 46 wounded in the capital. One person died and 10 were wounded in the surrounding districts. Officials said this was the second major attack on Kyiv in less than a week.
The Ukrainian military announced that Russia launched 68 missiles and 351 drones overnight. According to the Kyiv Independent newspaper, the first explosions were heard around 1:40 am local time, with further attacks at 2:10 am and 3:15 am.
Thousands rushed to underground shelters after air raid sirens sounded across the country. At least 15 buildings were damaged in the capital, four of them in the historic Podilskyi district. Firefighters and rescue teams are continuing to search for those trapped under the rubble. Tkachenko said rescue efforts are ongoing and the death toll could rise, adding: 'Unfortunately, this is not the final figure.'
In a televised address to the nation on Sunday evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned of a possible new Russian attack ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara. He is expected to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the summit, which begins on Tuesday.
Zelenskyy said, "Intelligence once again shows that the Russians are preparing a new major attack. This is a typical Putin move: right after America's Independence Day and ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara."
Last weekend, Russia also attacked Kyiv with dozens of missiles and hundreds of drones, killing 31 people. That attack was the deadliest in the capital this year.
Both sides have recently increased their use of long-range weapons. Ukraine is focusing on attacks on energy facilities to weaken Russia's war effort.
Meanwhile, the governor of Sevastopol in Russian-controlled Crimea, Mikhail Razvozhayev, announced on Telegram on Monday that electricity had been temporarily cut off due to a Ukrainian attack on energy infrastructure near the city.
