Kyiv hit by Russian strikes as casualties mount and aid delays

A series of Russian aerial strikes that rocked Kyiv overnight killed at least three people, wounded a dozen others and caused significant damage to residential buildings, city officials said on Thursday, deepening fears among residents already reeling from previous high-casualty attacks and chronic delays in reconstruction and aid distribution.

The assault began around 9:30 p.m., setting off air raid sirens and prompting shelter warnings across nearly every region. Powerful explosions lit the night sky and left smoke columns over multiple districts. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the attack was massive, with air defence forces operating as red tracer bullets were seen attempting to intercept incoming missiles and drones. Emergency services reported damage in Darnytskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, Solomyanskyi and Dniprovsky districts, including collapsed and burned residential buildings, a kindergarten struck by falling debris and fires in high-rise structures. City authorities identified one of the dead as a 14-year-old.

Top presidential adviser Andriy Yermak described chaotic scenes on the ground, saying rescuers were pulling people from rubble as drones continued to fly overhead. He...