Russia Launches Major Ballistic Missile Attack on Ukrainian Capital

Constantvpn.com – Russia launches major ballistic missile strikes against Kyiv in what officials are calling one of the most significant aerial assaults on the Ukrainian capital in recent months. The latest wave of attacks, which began overnight, targeted both residential neighborhoods and commercial buildings across the city. According to Kyiv’s mayor, Vitaliy Klitschko, the bombardment resulted in one fatality and at least 14 injuries among civilians. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the event as “one of the most massive ballistic attacks on Kyiv” since Moscow initiated its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Defensive Operations and Counter-Strikes

The Ukrainian military reported impressive defensive capabilities during the assault, with air defense systems successfully intercepting 18 out of 41 incoming missiles. In addition to the ballistic threats, Ukrainian forces also shot down 108 drones that accompanied the missile barrage. While defending its territory, Ukraine has simultaneously escalated its own offensive operations against Russian targets across multiple fronts.

Ukrainian drones successfully struck two Russian oil tankers operating in the Black Sea, according to military sources. The Caspian Pipeline Consortium, responsible for transporting Kazakhstan’s Caspian oil to Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, confirmed that its terminal sustained damage during the attacks. However, the consortium reported no injuries or oil spills resulting from the incident. Meanwhile, the governor of Russia’s south-western Stavropol region announced that a separate drone attack had ignited a fire within an industrial park.

The comprehensive assault on Kyiv utilized diverse Russian weapons systems, including Iskander tactical missiles and hypersonic Zircon missiles, alongside 125 drones, as reported by the Ukrainian air force. Mayor Klitschko confirmed that the damage extended across multiple building types, with both residential apartments and commercial structures affected. A supermarket and a student dormitory sustained significant damage, while firefighters continued battling blazes at two separate warehouse facilities throughout the day.

President Zelensky provided detailed statistics in his Telegram message, revealing that Russia had deployed approximately 1,450 strike drones, more than 1,640 guided bombs, and 99 missiles of various types against Ukraine over the past week alone. The overnight strikes followed Ukraine’s successful drone campaign targeting two warehouses belonging to Russia’s largest online retailer, Wildberries. The operation resulted in eight fatalities and triggered major fires at the facilities.

“Ukraine’s operations are in response to Russian strikes on our civilian infrastructure and on our cities and communities,” President Zelensky stated on Saturday.

Separate incidents occurred at Wildberries facilities in different locations. Seven deaths and 25 injuries were reported at a warehouse in the city of Tambov, situated approximately 295 miles (475km) south-east of Moscow. Another Wildberries warehouse in Elektrostal, near the Russian capital, recorded one death and 37 injuries from the Ukrainian strikes.

The RWB group, which unites Wildberries with advertising company Russ, received a valuation of approximately $12.6 billion (£9.3 billion) by Forbes Russia in 2026. Ukraine has significantly intensified its long-range drone operations targeting Russia’s critical energy infrastructure, leading to widespread fuel shortages across Russian regions. Earlier this month, Kyiv reported that nearly 43% of Russia’s oil refining capacity had been disabled as a direct consequence of Ukrainian operations.

The BBC has not independently verified this figure. Ukrainian officials maintain that Russian oil and gas facilities represent legitimate military targets, given Moscow’s heavy reliance on fossil fuel exports to fund its ongoing invasion. As the conflict continues, Russians are increasingly turning to cash transactions, placing additional strain on an already slowing wartime economy. Ukrainian soldiers have also expressed outrage over the recent removal of the defense minister, according to troops speaking with the BBC.