Massive Russian counterattack with dozens of missiles and over 100 drones strikes Kyiv; one dead and seven wounded

In response to the Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow that caused eight casualties, Russian forces carried out a five-hour overnight offensive on the Ukrainian capital, using about 40 ballistic and hypersonic missiles and over 120 drones, according to authorities in Kyiv. The strike left at least one dead and injured seven others, as fires and destruction spread throughout the city.

According to Ukrainian sources, the weapons used included Iskander-M and Zircon missiles. The air raid alert began around 1:30 a.m., immediately followed by the crackle of defense systems and then a series of explosions that shook residents a few minutes later.

A three-story building in the central area was completely engulfed in flames. Rescue teams pulled out several people trapped inside and found the body of one victim. Fires also broke out in four other areas, affecting office buildings, residences, and a dormitory.

Sheltering in the Lukyanivska metro station, citizens reported that the ceiling of the ground-floor hall collapsed due to the powerful blast wave. The station was temporarily closed for safety reasons.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is suffering from a shortage of ammunition and air defense equipment, as its interceptor missile stocks appear to be severely depleted.

Domestically, the country is also facing a wave of mass protests against the government in Kyiv. The trigger for these demonstrations was President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to dismiss the well-known and reformist Defense Minister, Mykhailo Federov.

Protesters are demanding Federov’s reinstatement and the removal of the commander-in-chief, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, who is criticized for continuing a Soviet-era leadership style.