Deadly Russian Missile Barrage Strikes Kyiv as War Enters New Escalation Phase

Russia launched a wave of coordinated missile and drone attacks on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv early Friday morning, killing at least three civilians and injuring dozens more, in what officials are calling one of the most intense assaults on the city in months.

The barrage began shortly after 4:00 a.m. local time, with more than a dozen cruise missiles and Iranian-made Shahed drones targeting central and northern districts of Kyiv. Ukrainian air defense systems managed to intercept most of the drones, but several missiles penetrated the city’s defense shield, causing widespread damage to infrastructure, residential buildings, and the city’s metro system.

Following the blasts, city authorities ordered an emergency shutdown of parts of the Kyiv Metro. Trains on the red and blue lines were temporarily suspended due to structural damage in underground tunnels and stations. Thousands of commuters were left stranded as rescue teams raced to evacuate those trapped in the rubble.

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“The entire building shook,” said Olena Berezhenko, a Kyiv schoolteacher who lives near one of the impact sites. “I thought it was another earthquake then I saw the fire in the distance. We’re all terrified this could become daily again.”

Emergency crews worked through the morning to contain fires and treat the wounded, many of whom sustained injuries from flying glass and debris. Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed three fatalities by midday, while hospitals reported at least 27 wounded, including children.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack in a televised statement, calling it a “cowardly display of terror” and a “direct challenge to international law.”

“Russia continues to show the world that it respects no red lines, no diplomacy, and no human life,” Zelensky said. “This was not a military operation it was terrorism.”

He urged Western allies to respond swiftly, both with additional air defense systems and tighter economic sanctions on Moscow.

In a statement released by the Russian Ministry of Defense, Moscow claimed the missile strikes were aimed at military infrastructure and “command nodes” supporting what it called “NATO-led operations within Ukraine.” The Kremlin dismissed reports of civilian casualties as “fabricated Ukrainian propaganda.”

U.S. and EU officials, however, quickly backed Kyiv’s account. “There is no justification for these indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas,” said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “This latest aggression only deepens Russia’s isolation on the global stage.”

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The escalation comes at a sensitive time, as international negotiations on a potential ceasefire had recently resumed behind closed doors in Geneva. Analysts now fear the attack may derail those talks.

“Striking the heart of Kyiv while ceasefire talks are ongoing shows Putin wants leverage, not peace,” said Fiona Hargreaves, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.

NATO’s defense council is set to convene this weekend to discuss increased support for Ukraine, including the possible deployment of new long-range anti-missile systems and satellite intelligence cooperation.

For Ukrainians, the war now in its third year has become a relentless cycle of fear and survival. Friday’s attack served as a brutal reminder that the fight for control over the nation’s sovereignty is far from over.

As Kyiv recovers from the fresh destruction, air raid sirens continue to echo through the capital, warning that more attacks may be imminent.