Russia Launches Second Consecutive Drone Attack on Kyiv, Injuring Civilians and Damaging Infrastructure

Russia launched another wave of drone and missile attacks on Kyiv early Thursday, injuring at least four people and causing extensive damage to homes, public buildings, and a kindergarten, according to Ukrainian officials. Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, confirmed that several residential areas were hit, prompting city authorities to warn residents of a potential missile strike.

The latest assault marks the second consecutive night of attacks on Ukraine’s capital. On Wednesday, nationwide strikes killed six people, including two children, and triggered widespread power outages. Officials believe the campaign is aimed at crippling Ukraine’s energy infrastructure as winter approaches, part of a sustained strategy in the war now entering its fourth year.

Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk described the barrage as part of a “methodical campaign” to destroy Ukraine’s energy sector. She noted that repair crews working on damaged facilities have also been targeted. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed the strikes were retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on Russian civilian areas.

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 405 drones and 28 missiles during the overnight onslaught, of which 333 drones and 16 missiles were intercepted. Fires broke out in several Kyiv districts, including Desnianskyi and Pecherskyi, home to the historic Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery. Ten people were rescued from a high-rise blaze in Dniprovskyi, and several others were hospitalized.

Nationwide, regions such as Poltava and Zaporizhzhia faced severe damage to energy and industrial sites. To aid residents facing blackouts, authorities reopened “points of invincibility,” offering heat, food, and charging stations.

Since the 2022 invasion, Russia has consistently targeted Ukraine’s energy facilities, seeking to weaken morale and infrastructure during the harsh winter months.