Three people were killed and more than 30 others injured overnight after a wave of Russian drone and missile attacks struck Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, officials confirmed on Sunday.
KYIV, Ukraine — The
assault, which hit multiple residential buildings, marks one of the deadliest
aerial strikes on the city in recent weeks as Moscow intensifies its campaign
against civilian and energy infrastructure ahead of winter.
Escalating
Attacks Across the Capital
Kyiv
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said two high-rise apartment buildings in the
Desnianskyi district were hit, with six children among the injured. Emergency
responders worked through the night to extinguish fires and rescue survivors
from the debris.
According
to city authorities, three victims died instantly when a drone slammed into a
nine-story building, sparking a fire that spread across multiple floors.
Officials
reported at least 24 injuries from the same strike and significant damage to
three nearby residential complexes.
Russia’s
Growing Drone Offensive
Ukraine’s
air force said Moscow has launched nearly 1,200 drones across the country in
the past week — a marked escalation as temperatures drop and energy demand
rises. The attacks appear aimed at exhausting Ukraine’s air defenses and
crippling its power grid before winter.
Analysts
at the Ukrainian Center for Strategic Studies said the renewed bombardment
“signals a shift toward sustained attrition warfare designed to undermine
civilian resilience.”
Moscow
Reports Drone Activity Near Capital
Meanwhile,
Russian officials in Moscow claimed their air defenses destroyed two Ukrainian
drones approaching the city early Sunday. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said there were
no casualties or damage, though flights were briefly suspended at Vnukovo and
Sheremetyevo airports.
The
Kremlin has consistently framed such incidents as “terrorist attempts” by Kyiv,
while Ukrainian officials maintain they target only military or logistical
facilities within Russia.
International
Reactions and Sanctions
The surge
in attacks coincides with fresh U.S. and EU sanctions on Russia’s energy
sector. President Donald Trump, speaking before departing for Asia, announced
penalties on Russia’s largest oil companies, marking the first such move in his
current term.
Trump
said ongoing talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin had “not gone
anywhere,” shelving plans for a possible meeting in Budapest.
European
Union leaders have also agreed to extend sanctions targeting Russian exports,
reaffirming their plan to phase out Russian energy imports by 2028.
Diplomatic
Stalemate Amid Peace Efforts
Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Western allies to supply long-range
weapon systems to deter further Russian advances. However, recent visits to
Washington and Brussels yielded no new military aid commitments.
Still,
Zelensky reportedly accepted a U.S. proposal for a temporary ceasefire along
current front lines to allow peace negotiations — a move short of Russian
demands for full Ukrainian withdrawal from Donbas.
Hints of
Diplomatic Breakthrough
Senior
Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev told CNN after meetings in Washington that a
diplomatic solution “may be closer than expected.”
“It’s a
big move by President Zelensky to already acknowledge that it’s about battle
lines,” Dmitriev said. “We are reasonably close to a diplomatic solution that
can be worked out.”
While
both sides remain entrenched, observers view these comments as the most
optimistic signal since failed talks in Alaska last August.
Strategic
Military Developments
Adding to
tensions, Russia confirmed the successful test of a nuclear-powered cruise
missile said to possess “unlimited range” and the ability to evade Western
missile defenses. Western intelligence agencies have not independently verified
the claim but described it as “concerning” given the timing of renewed
hostilities.
War at a
Stalemate
Since
launching its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia has maintained
control over roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, annexed in
2014.
The front
lines have seen little movement in recent months, as both sides focus on
attrition and strategic strikes against supply routes and infrastructure.
Kyiv
continues to rely heavily on Western-supplied systems, while Moscow’s use of
Iranian-designed drones has drawn sharp international criticism.
Humanitarian
Impact
Ukraine’s
emergency services reported widespread power outages across Kyiv’s northern
suburbs, leaving thousands without heating as night temperatures drop below
freezing. The Ukrainian Red Cross said teams were dispatched to assist
displaced families and provide medical care to those injured in the blasts.
Regional
and Global Implications
The
renewed Russian offensive raises fears of another severe energy crisis across
Europe this winter. Analysts warn that prolonged strikes on Ukrainian power
facilities could disrupt electricity exports vital to neighboring EU states.
“What
happens in Kyiv this winter will determine Europe’s broader energy stability,”
said Iryna Melnyk, an energy policy expert in Lviv.
While
officials in Kyiv brace for further strikes, the Ukrainian government maintains
that peace will only be possible under “fair conditions” — without compromising
national sovereignty.
For now,
Kyiv residents face another winter under the shadow of war, with the hope that
diplomatic channels will prevail before the next escalation.
By AveryMorgan, CRN Times Newsroom
Date: 26
October 2025 – 15:35 GMT