Death toll in attack on Kyiv apartment building now stands at 24 – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
Kyiv – A Russian cruise missile slammed into a nine-story apartment building in the Ukrainian capital on Thursday, killing 24 people including three teenagers, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday. Rescue teams worked through the night and into the following day to clear the rubble, confirming the final toll after more than 24 hours of search efforts. The strike formed part of one of the largest Russian aerial assaults on Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began more than three years ago.
Details of the Barrage
The missile hit a corner block in Kyiv during a wave of attacks that also wounded 48 people, among them two children. Ukrainian air defense forces reported intercepting many incoming weapons, yet the single cruise missile that reached its target caused extensive damage to the residential structure. Zelenskyy noted that the weapon had been manufactured only months earlier, underscoring ongoing Russian efforts to sustain production despite international sanctions. The assault extended beyond the capital, striking more than 180 sites nationwide and damaging over 50 residential buildings. Ukrainian forces tracked more than 1,560 drones launched toward population centers in recent days, marking a sharp escalation from previous large-scale operations.
Recent Ceasefire Efforts and Renewed Fighting
The attacks followed a brief period of reduced intensity after U.S. President Donald Trump urged both sides to observe a ceasefire from May 9 to 11. Fighting continued at lower levels during those three days, yet the latest barrage contradicted hopes that the conflict might soon wind down. Zelenskyy described the scale of the drone campaign as the largest since March, when nearly 1,000 Russian drones and missiles targeted Ukrainian territory in a single night. Russia’s Defense Ministry reported downing 355 Ukrainian drones overnight in what it called one of the biggest such attacks of the war. Several Ukrainian airports halted operations temporarily because of the threat.
Ukraine’s Response and Prisoner Exchange
In a parallel development, Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery in Ryazan, roughly 100 kilometers southeast of Moscow, killing four people including a child, according to regional governor Pavel Malkov. Thick black smoke rose from the facility after the hit, consistent with Ukraine’s strategy of targeting Russian energy infrastructure to limit export income. Officials in Kyiv offered no immediate statement on the Ryazan operation. Separately, both countries completed the first stage of a planned 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner swap. Two hundred five captives from each side returned home, with some Ukrainians having been held since 2022 and having fought in major battles earlier in the war. Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed the exchange and credited the United Arab Emirates for its mediation role.
National Mourning and Ongoing Concerns
Kyiv observed an official day of mourning on Friday for those killed in the apartment building strike. Zelenskyy visited the site to pay respects and later posted on social media that Russia continues to import components for missile production in violation of sanctions. He urged international partners to treat the evasion of those restrictions as a top priority. The latest violence highlights how quickly diplomatic signals can give way to intensified combat. With both sides demonstrating expanded long-range capabilities, the risk of further civilian casualties remains high even as prisoner exchanges continue.