In brief
A heavy drone and missile barrage launched by Russian forces overnight over Kyiv led to the destruction of a nine‑storey residential block, killing 18 residents. The city's mayor dubbed it the "most massive" assault on the capital, prompting evacuations of several neighbourhoods. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had warned of a looming attack hours beforehand. BBC’s Southern and Eastern Europe correspondent Sarah Rainsford reported from the rubble site, providing a stark visual of the devastation. The incident marks another escalation in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
In the early hours of Sunday, Russian forces launched a coordinated drone and missile strike on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, destroying a nine‑storey block of flats and killing 18 people.
The attack, described by Kyiv’s mayor as the "most massive" assault against the city, forced cities officials to evacuate several neighbourhoods and prompted a temporary air‑alarm status across the metropolis.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had warned the nation of an impending attack hours before the bombing took place, adding a tense context to the tragedy that followed.
BBC Southern and Eastern Europe correspondent Sarah Rainsford covered the scene from the wreckage, shooting footage of the complete collapse of the building with its windows shattered and debris scattered across the streets.
The incident highlights the continued conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with Ukraine claiming the attack is part of Russia’s wider strategy to destabilise the region. International observers and humanitarian organisations have called for urgent investigations into the impact on civilian infrastructure and the protection of residents during ongoing hostilities.
The BBC continues to provide live coverage of events in Ukraine and updates on the ongoing conflict.
