At least 20 killed as Russia's overnight strikes widen across Ukraine
Ukrainian officials said the death toll from overnight Russian strikes across central and eastern Ukraine has risen to at least 20, as rescue work continued in several cities. The attacks were reported in Pryluky, Kyiv, Dnipro, Kremenchuk, Zaporizhzhia and Oleksandriya, with the most severe damage described in Pryluky in the Chernihiv region. In that city, a residential building was destroyed and emergency workers were still searching for people under the rubble.
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Volodymyr Zelensky said the assault involved 70 missiles and described it as one of Russia's most vile attacks. He said five people were initially reported killed and 26 injured in Pryluky, including five children, before the State Emergency Service later said the death toll there had risen to 14, including the bodies of three children. Zelensky also said two people were killed in Kyiv, two in Dnipro and two in Oleksandriya, while eight were injured in Kremenchuk after missile strikes damaged apartment buildings.
The scale of the casualties and the spread of the strikes across multiple cities underline the pressure on Ukraine's air defences and emergency services. Zelensky renewed his call for allies to provide air defence support packages, saying Ukraine's military had only managed to shoot down some of the missiles. Ukraine's national police also published images of what it said was an unexploded Russian Iskander missile in Kyiv, and the pictures were later verified as genuine.
The attacks matter because they hit several population centres at once, rather than a single front-line area. That increases the strain on rescue crews, hospitals and local authorities, while also raising concern about civilian exposure in cities far from the battlefield. The reported damage to apartment blocks in Pryluky, Dnipro and Kremenchuk also points to the continuing vulnerability of residential areas during large-scale missile attacks.
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The incident fits a wider pattern of repeated strikes on Ukrainian cities during the war, including attacks that have forced residents into shelters and disrupted daily life in the capital. Kyiv has repeatedly seen people take refuge in metro stations during air raid alerts, reflecting the role of urban infrastructure in civilian protection. The latest wave also comes as Ukraine continues to face pressure on its air defence stockpiles and on emergency response systems.
Zelensky said Ukraine had also struck targets in Russia's Perm, Samara and Astrakhan regions in the past 24 hours, and added there had been a response in the Black Sea, though he gave no further details. That exchange shows the conflict remains active on both sides of the border, even as the immediate focus in Ukraine is on rescue work and casualty confirmation. The mention of multiple Russian regions suggests the overnight period was part of a broader cycle of attacks and counter-strikes.
What remains unclear is the full number of injured, the extent of damage in each city and whether the death toll will rise further as searches continue. Officials have not yet given a complete breakdown of the weapons used in each location or the precise targets struck. Further updates are likely as rescue teams continue working in Pryluky and authorities assess the wider impact of the overnight assault.
Ukrainian officials said Russia carried out a major overnight missile and drone attack across several cities, with the death toll rising to at least 15. The strikes were reported in Pryluky, Kyiv, Dnipro, Kremenchuk, Zaporizhzhia and Oleksandriya, according to the supplied reports. In Kyiv, residents again sheltered in metro stations as warnings of a possible large-scale attack spread through the capital.
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The latest reporting adds to earlier accounts of deaths and injuries and points to a broader wave of damage beyond the capital. One of the most serious incidents was in Pryluky, where a residential building was destroyed and rescue workers were searching for people under rubble. The overnight attacks also prompted renewed concern about the scale of civilian exposure as emergency crews continued to work through the morning.
The strikes matter because they hit multiple population centres at once, rather than a single front-line area. That pattern increases the strain on rescue services, hospitals and local authorities, while also deepening pressure on air defences. The use of both missiles and drones in the same overnight assault underlines the continuing challenge for Ukraine's warning systems and civilian protection measures.
The incident also fits a wider pattern of repeated attacks on Ukrainian cities during the war, including strikes that have forced people into underground shelters and disrupted daily life in the capital. Kyiv's metro stations have repeatedly served as refuge during air raid alerts, reflecting how urban infrastructure is being used for civilian protection. The destruction reported in Pryluky and the spread of casualties across central and eastern Ukraine suggest the impact was not confined to one region.
What remains unclear is the full number of people injured, the extent of damage in each city and whether the death toll will rise further as rescue work continues. The supplied reports do not give a complete breakdown of the weapons used or the targets struck in each location. Further updates are likely as officials confirm casualties, assess destruction and continue searching for survivors.
Ukraine's president said Russia carried out one of the most severe overnight attacks of the war, striking multiple cities and hitting energy infrastructure. At least 11 people were killed and more than 34 injured in attacks on Pryluky, Dnipro, Kremenchik, Zaporizhzhia and Kyiv. The strikes came overnight and were described by Ukrainian officials as a major escalation in pressure on civilian and strategic targets.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the assault was a "birthday gift for Putin", referring to the Russian president's 74th birthday. He said Russian ballistic missiles remained the greatest challenge and called for more air defence support, including Patriot missile systems. Ukraine's foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, said the attacks amounted to war crimes and urged partners to impose stronger sanctions on Russia's military-industrial complex.
The latest figures mark a sharp rise from earlier reports of deaths in Kyiv alone and suggest the overnight assault spread well beyond the capital. Ukrainian officials said energy infrastructure was among the targets, reinforcing concerns about damage to power supplies as colder weather approaches. The attacks also underline the continuing vulnerability of major cities and infrastructure hubs far from the front line.
The timing is significant because strikes on energy facilities have been a recurring feature of the war, especially as winter nears and demand on the power grid increases. Damage to electricity systems can affect households, hospitals, transport and emergency services, while also adding pressure on Ukraine's air defence stockpiles. The renewed calls for missiles, air defence systems and energy assistance reflect the scale of the challenge facing Kyiv.
The incident also carries legal and diplomatic weight. Sybiha said stronger sanctions should target facilities producing ballistic missiles and the Rassvet satellite system, and he said preparations were under way for the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine. Those remarks show how the latest strikes are being used by Kyiv to press allies for both military support and accountability measures.
What remains unclear is the full extent of damage in each city and whether the casualty toll will rise further as rescue work continues. Officials have not yet given a complete assessment of the weapons used or the overall impact on the energy network. Further updates are likely as authorities assess the destruction and respond to the aftermath of the overnight assault.
Russia said its forces carried out a "massive strike" on Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions overnight, while Ukrainian officials confirmed at least two deaths in the capital. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said the fatalities occurred in the Darnytskyi neighbourhood, where a fire broke out during the attack. He said two people were rescued while firefighters were extinguishing the blaze, and the bodies of two people were later found.
The Russian Defence Ministry said the attack also hit targets in other parts of Ukraine, including port facilities in the Odesa region and sea vessels used in the interests of the Ukrainian armed forces. That adds to the immediate concern over damage to infrastructure beyond the capital, particularly in a region that is important for maritime trade and military logistics. The overnight strike came as air raid sirens sounded across Kyiv, with residents urged to take shelter in basements, shelters and subway stations.
The attack is the latest in a series of Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy, transport and port infrastructure. Kyiv has faced repeated bombardment in recent weeks, including attacks on rail and road links and on bridges over the Dnipro River. The pattern has increased pressure on civilian life in the capital and on the wider transport network, which remains vulnerable to missile and drone attacks.
The timing matters because Kyiv is both Ukraine's political centre and a densely populated city where strikes can quickly produce civilian casualties and disruption. Damage to port facilities in the Odesa region also carries wider economic significance, given the role of southern ports in exports and supply routes. The attack underlines how the war continues to affect not only front-line areas but also major urban and logistical hubs far from the battlefield.
What remains unclear is the full scale of damage in Kyiv and the Odesa region, and whether there were further casualties beyond those confirmed in Darnytskyi. Officials have not yet given a complete assessment of the number of missiles or drones involved in the overnight assault. Further updates are likely as emergency crews continue their work and authorities assess the impact on infrastructure and civilian areas.
At least two people were killed in Kyiv after what Ukrainian officials described as massive overnight strikes on the capital. The attack triggered a fire in the Darnytskyi district, one of the city's densely populated neighbourhoods, and prompted residents to shelter in subway stations as air raid alerts sounded. Officials said the capital was among the hardest-hit areas in a broader wave of attacks across Ukraine.
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said two people died in the fire in Darnytskyi after the strike, adding that two others were rescued while firefighters were extinguishing the blaze. President Volodymyr Zelensky warned earlier that Russia was preparing a massive strike and urged residents to monitor air raid sirens. The Ukrainian air force also warned that a ballistic missile was heading towards Kyiv, while monitoring channels expected a large-scale attack involving cruise and ballistic missiles.
The strikes came as Ukraine has faced intensified attacks in recent weeks, with energy infrastructure and transport links among the reported targets. Officials said the pressure on the power grid was severe enough for scheduled power cuts to be introduced in parts of Kyiv soon after Zelensky's address. Residents described spending the night in underground shelters, carrying bags, blankets and sleeping mats as the alerts continued.
The attack matters because Kyiv is both Ukraine's political centre and a major civilian population hub, making strikes there especially significant for security and public morale. Damage in the capital also has wider implications for the country's energy system and transport network, which have been repeatedly targeted during the war. With winter approaching, attacks on infrastructure can increase disruption for households, businesses and emergency services.
The latest strike fits a pattern of repeated Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, including energy facilities and rail and road transport. Kyiv has been under near-constant air raid warnings in recent weeks, according to officials, reflecting the scale of the aerial threat. The use of subway stations as shelters also underlines how civilians in the capital have adapted to repeated alerts and the risk of missile strikes.
What remains unclear is the full extent of damage across Kyiv and whether there were additional casualties beyond those confirmed in Darnytskyi. Officials have not yet given a complete assessment of the overnight attack or the number of missiles involved. Further updates are likely as emergency crews continue work and authorities assess the impact on the city's infrastructure.
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