Russian missile and drone attack kills 13 across Ukraine, Zelenskyy says

At least 13 people were killed across Ukraine after Russia launched a combined missile and drone attack overnight, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday, with damage reported in Kyiv, Odesa and Chernihiv regions.

Twelve people were killed in Kyiv and one elsewhere in the surrounding region, while about 40 others were injured, according to Ukrainian officials. Emergency crews continued working at several strike sites as rescuers searched damaged buildings.

The attack involved ballistic and cruise missiles as well as drones, Ukrainian authorities said. Several districts of Kyiv were hit, damaging residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, including a children’s hospital and an educational facility.

Damage was also reported in the Odesa and Chernihiv regions. In Odesa, authorities said a drone attack struck infrastructure near the border with Moldova, while power disruptions were reported in parts of the region.

Zelenskyy said the scale of the assault underlined Ukraine’s need for stronger air defences, particularly systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.

Russia said its forces had targeted military-related infrastructure. The competing accounts could not be independently verified.

Kyiv authorities declared a day of mourning as emergency crews continued their work.