Russian airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of 12 individuals and injuries to several others in Kyiv and its nearby areas early Tuesday. This marks the sixth consecutive day of attacks on the Ukrainian capital by Russia, which initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The air assaults on Ukraine have intensified in recent months as Russia’s advancement on the battlefield has significantly slowed.
Kyiv and its vicinity have been plagued by swarms of drones over the past five days, causing casualties, property damage, and disruptions to daily life. The drones, many of which are advanced models powered by jet engines, have made interception more challenging. The continuous attacks have led to extended air-raid alerts, disrupting the routines of millions of residents.
More explosions were reported in Kyiv on Tuesday morning. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that Russian drones and ballistic missiles targeted residential areas and railway infrastructure in the extensive overnight attacks. Sybiha urged Ukraine’s allies to intensify economic pressure on Russia and explore utilizing Russia’s frozen assets abroad to support Ukraine’s defense efforts.
The attacks in Kyiv resulted in the deaths of eight people overnight, predominantly railway workers, with additional explosions occurring on Tuesday morning, injuring three individuals in a daytime drone strike on a high-rise apartment building. Elsewhere, in Boryspil near Kyiv, four individuals lost their lives, and 13 others were injured in an assault that struck a residential building and other locations. Among the casualties outside Kyiv was an Indian citizen.
Russian strikes also targeted a border crossing with NATO-member Romania in the Odesa region, leaving thousands without electricity, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Moscow has been conducting regular bombings on Ukrainian cities, with recent daytime strikes disrupting life in the capital.
In August, Russia deployed over 2,800 jet-powered drones, a significant increase from the previous month, as confirmed by air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat. Ukrainian air defenses managed to intercept five ballistic missiles overnight, with Kyiv receiving a small shipment of Patriot interceptors recently.
Ukraine retaliated by targeting Russia, focusing on oil refineries and logistics infrastructure, including warehouses of online retailers. Russian regional authorities reported fires in the Ust-Luga port area and damage to civilian facilities in the Samara region due to Ukrainian air attacks.
Estonia’s defense forces reported that drones used in a Ukrainian strike against Russia briefly trespassed into Estonian airspace, underscoring the importance of supporting Ukraine with air defense capabilities. Russia’s defense ministry claimed to have struck military and energy installations in Kyiv, Odesa, and their surrounding regions overnight.
Peace negotiations led by the U.S. have stalled this year, with Ukraine rejecting Russian demands for territorial concessions and the U.S. shifting focus towards the conflict with Iran. Ukrainian President Zelenskiy mentioned having a productive call with U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys and working on finalizing a visit to Ukraine.