Watch: Russia hits Ukraine's capital with drones and missiles, eight injured

Russia attacked Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, on Saturday with drones, missiles, and injured at least eight people, the city's mayor said.

Images shared online captured thick smoke pouring from the rooftop of one apartment block, while flames erupted from another nearby building as emergency crews directed powerful jets of water at the blaze. A fiery orange glow illuminated the skyline, with dark plumes drifting across the city’s horizon.

🚨🇷🇺🇺🇦 RUSSIA UNLEASHES MASSIVE MISSILE BARRAGE ON KYIV HOURS AFTER HISTORIC PRISONER EXCHANGE

Russia reportedly launched one of its largest ballistic missile and drone attacks on Kyiv tonight, striking residential buildings just hours after completing the first phase of a… https://t.co/EhIYLnBR8X pic.twitter.com/FGeINHL1sj

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 23, 2025

Russia tonight has launched a major ballistic missile and drone attack against the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, likely one of the largest since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. Hundreds of drones have reportedly been downed by Ukrainian air-defenses and fighter jets, while a… pic.twitter.com/9OTmPZBruO

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) May 23, 2025

Acting head of Kyiv's military administration, Tymur Tkachenko, reported via Telegram that intercepted projectiles landed in four districts of the capital early Saturday. He confirmed six individuals needed medical attention, whilst two fires erupted in the Solomianskyi district.

City mayor Vitalii Klitschko alerted residents about incoming Russian drones before the attack. He later reported that debris struck a shopping centre and residential building in the Obolon district, with emergency responders dispatched to the location.

This followed the several days of Ukrainian drone attacks - some 800 attacks - on targets inside Russia, including capital Moscow.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov had vowed on Friday to respond to those attacks and said the surge of Ukrainian drone attacks was "a direct consequence" of support for Ukraine by European Union countries whose leaders visited Kyiv in recent days.
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"We are certain that they will be held accountable for their share of responsibility for these crimes," Lavrov said, referring to the European countries.

"This is clearly an attempt to disrupt peace talks and undermine progress made in Istanbul following the agreements between the presidents of Russia and the United States...We will continue this work no matter what provocations there may be."