Russian air strikes caused the death of 12 individuals and wounded several others in Kyiv and its nearby areas early Tuesday, marking the sixth consecutive day of bombardment on the Ukrainian capital. The ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia since 2022 has seen an escalation in air assaults on the country in recent times, particularly as Russian advancements on the battlefield have significantly slowed.
In the past five days, Kyiv and its vicinity have been plagued by swarms of drones, resulting in casualties, destruction of residential properties, and warehouses. These advanced drones, equipped with jet engines, pose a challenge for interception. The relentless attacks, occurring almost around the clock, have disrupted the daily lives of millions, with prolonged air-raid alerts becoming a common occurrence.
Further explosions were reported in the capital on Tuesday morning, as confirmed by a witness from Reuters. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha highlighted that Russian drones and ballistic missiles targeted residential areas and railway infrastructure during the intense overnight assaults. Sybiha urged Ukraine’s allies to intensify economic pressure on Russia and explore utilizing Russia’s frozen assets abroad to bolster Ukraine’s war efforts.
Overnight attacks in Kyiv claimed the lives of eight individuals, mostly railway workers, with additional explosions on Tuesday morning leading to three more injuries in a drone strike that ignited a fire at a high-rise apartment building, as reported by Mayor Vitali Klitschko. In Boryspil, located just outside Kyiv, four individuals lost their lives and 13 others were injured in an assault striking a residential building and other locations, according to Governor Tymur Tkachenko.
The Russian assaults extended to a border crossing with NATO-member Romania in Odesa in the Black Sea region, leaving thousands without electricity, as mentioned by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The continuous bombings by Russia have disrupted the lives of Ukrainians, particularly with the introduction of new waves of daytime strikes, further unsettling the capital.
According to Ukraine’s air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat, Russia deployed over 2,800 jet-powered drones in August, marking a substantial increase from the previous months. Ukraine managed to intercept five ballistic missiles overnight and recently received a limited supply of Patriot interceptors.
In a retaliatory move, Ukraine has also intensified attacks on Russia, targeting oil refineries and logistics infrastructure, including warehouses of e-commerce companies. Russian regional governors reported damage to civilian facilities in the Samara region, where several oil refineries are located.
Estonia’s defence forces noted that drones involved in a Ukrainian strike against Russia briefly breached Estonian airspace, emphasizing the importance of supporting Ukraine with air defense capabilities. Moscow’s defence ministry confirmed targeting military and energy facilities in Kyiv, Odesa, and surrounding regions overnight.
Peace negotiations led by the U.S. have stalled this year, with Ukraine rejecting Russian demands for territorial concessions. President Zelenskyy disclosed a productive discussion with U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, aiming to finalize plans for a visit to Ukraine.