Kyiv air strikes: Child among three dead as Russian missiles batter Ukrainian capital

WEB DESK: Russian forces launched a devastating wave of aerial attacks across Ukraine early on Thursday morning, striking the capital, Kyiv, and several other urban centres.

Ukrainian officials have confirmed that at least three people were killed in the bombardment, including a 12-year-old child, as the Kremlin intensifies its long-range campaign against civilian infrastructure, according to Reuters.

The pre-dawn strikes left more than 20 people injured and caused significant structural damage to residential blocks and public buildings.

Emergency crews worked through the smoke and rubble to rescue survivors trapped in the debris of shattered apartment complexes.

Devastation in the capital

In Kyiv, the roar of air defences echoed across the city as residents sought shelter in metro stations and basements. While many incoming projectiles were intercepted, falling debris and direct hits caused fires in multiple districts.

The State Emergency Service reported that the 12-year-old victim was found in a residential neighbourhood where a high-rise building sustained a direct hit, shearing off several floors.

Hospital officials in the capital confirmed they are treating dozens of casualties for shrapnel wounds and respiratory issues caused by the resulting blazes.

Local authorities have described the assault as one of the most coordinated strikes on the city’s heart in recent weeks, aimed at breaking the morale of the local population.

Wider assault on urban hubs

The violence was not contained to the capital. Reports from other major cities indicate a synchronised effort to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defence network. In central and eastern regions, energy facilities and residential quarters were reportedly targeted, leading to localised power outages and water disruptions.

This is a cowardly act of terror against those who were sleeping,” a regional governor stated. “To target a child is to show the world that there are no red lines left for the occupiers.”

As the smoke clears, the Ukrainian government has renewed its urgent appeal to Western allies for enhanced air defence systems to protect its skies.

Moscow has yet to comment on the specific casualties, though it continues to maintain that its strikes only target military-linked infrastructure a claim repeatedly contradicted by the mounting toll on Ukrainian civilians.