Russia strikes Kyiv with missiles, drones in largest aerial attack since war in Ukraine began

Waves of drone and missile attacks targeted Kyiv overnight into Friday in the largest aerial attack since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began more than three years ago, injuring 23 people and inflicting severe damage across multiple districts of the capital in a seven-hour onslaught.

Russia launched 550 drones and missiles across Ukraine during the night, the country's air force said. The majority were Shahed drones, but Russia also launched 11 missiles in the attack. 

"It was a harsh, sleepless night," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Alya Shahlai, a 23-year-old wedding photographer, said her home was destroyed in the attack.

"We were all in the [basement] shelter because it was so loud; staying home would have been suicidal," she told The Associated Press. "We went down 10 minutes before, and then there was a loud explosion and the lights went out in the shelter. People were panicking."

Throughout the night, AP journalists in Kyiv heard the constant buzzing of drones overhead and the sound of explosions and intense machine gunfire as Ukrainian forces tried to intercept the aerial assault.

At least 14 people were hospitalized, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. 

Russia is escalating its long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities. Less than a week ago, Russia launched its previous largest aerial assault of the war. That strategy has coincided with a new push by Russia's bigger forces along parts of the roughly 1,000-kilometre front line, where Ukrainian troops are under severe pressure.

Russia's Defence Ministry said it had successfully struck military targets in Kyiv, while also capturing the village of Predtechyne in the eastern Donetsk region.

The attack on Kyiv began the same day a phone call took place between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelenskyy called the timing of the strikes a deliberate signal that Moscow has no intention of ending the war.

Trump said he would call Zelenskyy on Friday. U.S.-led international peace efforts have been fruitless so far.

The U.S. has paused some shipments of military aid to Ukraine, including crucial air defence missiles. Ukraine's main European backers are considering how they can help pick up the slack. Zelenskyy says plans are afoot to build up Ukraine's domestic arms industry, but scaling up will take time.

When asked if he made any progress with Putin on a deal to end the fighting in Ukraine, Trump said: "No, I didn't make any progress with him today at all."

"I'm not happy about that. I'm not happy about that," Trump said of Russia's war in Ukraine.