Russia launches large-scale attack on Kiev; bombing leaves dead and dozens injured

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Russia launched a large-scale attack against Kiev with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones during the early hours of this Thursday (2). The bombing, described by local authorities as a "furious enemy attack", caused strong explosions, shook the Ukrainian capital for hours and left a trail of destruction that affected all 10 districts of the city, on both sides of the Dnipro River.
There are initial divergences between the casualty figures released by local authorities. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kiev City Military Administration, said the attack left eight dead and damaged around three dozen sites in the capital. Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko separately reported that at least 34 people were injured. Among the victims are paramedics and drivers from an ambulance station.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had already issued prior warnings about the possibility of the bombing and said he had cut short his visit to Dublin, Ireland, where he would attend the start of the country's six-month term in the rotating presidency of the European Union.
Many residents, carrying children, belongings, tents and pets, sought shelter in underground metro stations after the first alarms. Air raid warnings have been issued for most of Ukraine in what is already considered the worst Russian attack on the country since mid-June.
"Another terrible night for the city's residents, who were forced to spend it in shelters," published Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, on the social network member of NATO and the European Union, it even sent jet fighters temporarily as a preventive measure, but the aircraft returned after verifying that there was no violation of airspace.
Finland, which is also a member of NATO and the European bloc, imposed a temporary aviation restriction in the eastern region of the Gulf of Finland, which was later lifted.
Buildings destroyed and people under rubble
Official reports point to serious structural damage in residential areas of Kiev. In the Desnianskyi district, a nine-story residential building was partially destroyed, and the first to sixth floors collapsed after a direct impact, leaving residents trapped in the rubble.
Fires were also recorded in the districts of Sviatoshynskyi and Darnytskyi, where rescue teams are working to extract people trapped under the wreckage of housing. In the Holosiivskyi district, the fire reached the roof of a multi-story building.
Flames also consumed the top of a building on the central Boulevard Shevchenko and reached areas close to residences in the Pecherskyi district, as well as an administrative building in Solomianskyi. Damage was also confirmed in Obolonskyi and Podilskyi districts.
In Shevchenkivskyi district, five people were injured, including a paramedic who is in extremely critical condition.
Context and exchange of attacks
Firefighters work at the site of an apartment building damaged during an attack with Russian missiles and drones, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kiev, Ukraine, on July 2, 2026.
Stringer / Reuters
The intensification of Russian attacks against the Ukrainian capital occurs in parallel with the advance of a long-range drone campaign promoted by Ukraine on Russian territory. The Ukrainian targets have been Russian military and energy facilities.
Ukrainian actions have hit deep provinces in neighboring territory, triggering a widespread fuel crisis in Russia - the world's third largest oil producer - and forcing the country to import gasoline from distant locations such as India.
On Thursday, the governor of the Leningrad region, Alexander Drozdenko, said on Telegram that Russian forces shot down seven Ukrainian drones in the area, which is home to large facilities oil refining and export.
In the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, local authorities reported that a drone attack hit a residence, killing a man and leaving his wife injured.
Both Russia and Ukraine claim that they do not deliberately target civilians in their operations. Recently, Zelenskyy proposed opening negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war that has lasted more than four years, but the proposal was rejected by the Kremlin leader.
*With information from Reuters and AP.

Source: G1