Russia has launched an extensive retaliatory drone and missile offensive targeting Kyiv and western Ukraine, following back-to-back Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian soil earlier this week. The escalation, Ukrainian officials confirmed on Friday, has resulted in multiple civilian casualties and significant infrastructure damage across the affected regions.
“Kyiv came under another attack involving UAVs and ballistic missiles. Rescuers are responding to the aftermath at several locations across the city,” the State Emergency Service of Ukraine posted on social media.
According to Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko, four people were killed and at least 20 others wounded in the capital as a result of the overnight bombardment. The attacks reportedly ignited fires in several districts, including at a residential complex, a civil infrastructure facility, and a metal hangar.
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The strike on the capital follows closely on the heels of a telephone conversation between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden, during which the Russian leader allegedly warned of a “firm response” to Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory, including the destruction of military aircraft at a Siberian air base.
The air raids also severely disrupted rail transport in the Kyiv region. Ukraine's national railway operator issued a warning of delays extending up to 90 minutes due to damage to the tracks.
Beyond the capital, western regions also bore the brunt of the offensive. Multiple strikes were recorded in the city of Lutsk and across Ternopil region.
“Today, the enemy carried out the most massive air attack on our region to date. There are multiple strikes,” said Vyacheslav Negoda, head of Ternopil’s regional military administration. “We have begun extinguishing fires and assessing the damage and other consequences.”
The drone campaign was supported by sustained artillery shelling from Russian ground units, resulting in five injuries in the Lutsk region. Igor Polishchuk, the mayor of Lutsk, stated that the strikes caused “numerous broken windows in private homes, several educational institutions, and one damaged government facility.” Public infrastructure, he noted, had also suffered extensive harm.
President Putin has reportedly ruled out a ceasefire or direct negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, following the most recent round of hostilities. Ukrainian officials have claimed that Moscow has issued an ultimatum demanding Kyiv’s full withdrawal from the four Ukrainian regions Russia claims to have annexed—territories which remain only partially under Russian control.
The growing intensity of the conflict suggests a further deterioration in diplomatic prospects, with both sides entrenching their positions amid continuing violence.
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