Russian strike on Kyiv kills 12 in biggest attack on Ukrainian capital since last summer

Deadly Russian attack on Kyiv prompts international condemnation, leaving residents wounded and city devastated, sparking calls for peace.

Russia pounded Kyiv with an hourslong barrage of missiles and drones Thursday (April 24, 2025), killing at least 12 people in its deadliest assault on the Ukrainian capital since July and drawing a rare rebuke of Moscow from U.S. President Donald Trump just as peace efforts were coming to a head.

The attack kept residents on edge for about 11 hours, with many staying awake all night while loud explosions reverberated around the city and flashes of light punctuated the sky. Families gathered in public air-raid shelters, some of them bringing cats and dogs. The strikes that began around 1 a.m. hit at least five neighbourhoods and heavily damaged multiple residential buildings. Around 90 people were wounded.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would cut short his official trip to South Africa and return home as the city reeled from the bombardment. It appeared to be Russia’s biggest attack on Kyiv in nine months, and Zelenskyy called it one of Russia’s ”most outrageous.”

Mr. Trump, who has long been reluctant to criticize the Kremlin, said he was “not happy” with it. He implored Russian President Vladimir Putin, to cease the devastating strikes.

“Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP!” Mr. Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

Senior U.S. officials have warned that the Trump administration could soon give up its efforts to stop the war if the two sides do not come to agreement to halt the fighting.

The Ukrainian air force said Russia fired 66 ballistic and cruise missiles, four plane-launched air-to-surface missiles, and 145 Shahed and decoy drones at Kyiv and four other regions of Ukraine. Rescue workers with flashlights scoured the charred rubble of partly collapsed homes as the blue lights of emergency vehicles lit up the dark city streets.