Deadly strikes hit Kyiv and Kharkiv as Ukraine targets Russian oil facilities
Russia has launched one of its largest ballistic missile attacks on Ukraine, killing at least five people and injuring more than 35 in fresh overnight strikes on major cities.
According to Ukrainian officials, four people were killed and 19 others wounded in the northeastern city of Kharkiv after missiles struck a postal terminal in the suburbs. In the capital, Kyiv, one person was killed while 16 others sustained injuries as missiles and drones targeted multiple areas.
President Volodymyr Zelensky described the assault on Kyiv as one of the most intense ballistic missile attacks on the capital since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Ukraine’s air force said Russia fired 41 missiles during the overnight barrage, with air defence systems intercepting 18 of them. Authorities also reported shooting down 108 drones used in the attack.
The strikes damaged residential buildings, warehouses, a supermarket, a student dormitory and a logistics hub near Kyiv. Firefighters spent hours battling large fires caused by the bombardment, while emergency crews continued rescue operations.
Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said the victims ranged in age from 24 to 62 years old, with several injured people remaining in critical condition.
Despite the attacks, Ukraine continued its own military operations inside Russia. Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian forces struck three Russian oil tankers in the Black Sea, several fuel facilities in the Stavropol region and additional oil infrastructure believed to support Russia’s war effort.
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium also reported damage to two oil tankers at its Black Sea terminal, forcing oil loading operations to be suspended. No injuries or oil spills were reported.
The latest exchange of attacks comes just days after Ukraine launched drone strikes on two Wildberries warehouses in Russia, killing eight people and causing extensive damage. Kyiv said those operations targeted logistics facilities allegedly supporting Russia’s military production.
Ukraine has significantly increased long-range drone strikes against Russia’s energy sector in recent months, arguing that oil and gas infrastructure helps finance Moscow’s invasion. Russia, meanwhile, has intensified missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities.
As the conflict continues, Zelensky renewed calls for more advanced air defence systems from Ukraine’s allies, saying protection against ballistic missiles remains the country’s highest priority.
The war, now in its fifth year, continues to escalate with both sides targeting military, logistics and energy infrastructure while civilians remain caught in the crossfire.
