Russian attack kills at least 17, injures scores and causes damage
across Ukraine capital
[July 02, 2026]
By HANNA ARHIROVA AND ILLIA NOVIKOV
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine’s
capital overnight into Thursday that killed at least 17 people and
injured scores as loud explosions shook Kyiv for hours.
The attack with ballistic and cruise missiles and drones damaged
buildings and civilian infrastructure across the city. Many residents
took shelter at metro stations after Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy and other authorities issued the first warnings of the attack.
The attack killed 17 people in Kyiv, the country’s Emergency Service
said. At least 90 others were injured, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali
Klitschko.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine's
capital overnight into Thursday that killed at least 13 people and
injured scores as loud explosions shook Kyiv for hours.
The attack with ballistic and cruise missiles and drones damaged
buildings and civilian infrastructure across the city. Many residents
took shelter at metro stations after Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy and other authorities issued the first warnings of the attack.
The attack killed 13 people in Kyiv and injured 86 more, according to
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Damage was recorded in 30 locations across
the city, mainly residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, said
Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration. Interior
Minister Ihor Klymenko said 20 residential buildings were damaged across
the city. The Emergency Service says it deployed nearly 500 personnel
and 100 units of specialized vehicles, including a helicopter, to deal
with the aftermath of the attack.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called on Ukraine’s allies to strengthen
the country’s air defenses following what he described as a “night of
horror” in Kyiv, urging partners not to delay decisions on supplying air
defense systems and missiles. Writing on X, Sybiha said the death toll
after the attack may rise as the rescue teams continued their work.
Russia has intensified its attacks on Kyiv in recent weeks, even as
Ukraine’s own long-range drone campaign against Russian military sites
and energy facilities has caused fuel shortages and disrupted supply
lines inside Russia.
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A woman looks at an apartment building burning after a Russian
missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Danylo
Antoniuk)
Sybiha rejected any attempts to justify Russian strikes as
retaliation for Ukraine’s long-range attacks, saying Ukraine was
exercising its right to self-defense under Article 51 of the U.N.
Charter while Russia remained the aggressor.
Klitschko urged residents of the capital to remain in shelters due
to the ongoing “furious enemy attack."
He said a paramedic in extremely critical condition was among the
injured in the Shevchenkivskyi district. Ukraine's Emergency Service
says a hotel and two five-story residential buildings were damaged
in the area.
In the Desnianskyi district, people were trapped inside a damaged
nine-story residential building and rescuers headed to the scene,
Klitschko said.
In the Holosiivskyi district, a fire broke out on the roof of a
16-story building, according to the Emergency Service.
In the Sviatoshynskyi district, fire broke out in two private
residencies, the Emergency Service said. Debris trapped people in
one of them, according to the mayor. In the Darnytskyi district, six
levels of a nine-story building collapsed after a Russian strike and
another five-story residential building was damaged, Klitschko said.
The Emergency Service said a 16-story building and private
residencies were damaged in the area.
Tkachenko said the attack partially destroyed a residential building
in the Desnianskyi district, sparked fires near residential
buildings at two locations in the Pecherskyi district, and ignited a
fire near an administrative building in the Solomianskyi district.
He said authorities were also recording damage in the Obolonskyi and
Podilskyi districts. The head of the Kyiv Regional Administration,
Mykola Kalashnyk, said damage occurred in five regional districts.
Three people sustained injuries in Bucha district, he said.
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