Kyiv, August 1, 2025 — Russia launched one of its most intense aerial offensives against Ukraine overnight, deploying more than 300 drones and eight cruise missiles in a massive coordinated attack targeting Kyiv and other regions across the country.
Ukrainian authorities confirmed that at least eight people were killed, including a 6-year-old boy, while 88 others were injured, among them 12 children. The assault marked the deadliest single night for civilian casualties since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
The barrage struck over 27 locations in the capital, damaging residential complexes, schools, and a children’s hospital, according to emergency services.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko described it as the worst night for children since 2022, highlighting the severity of the strikes on civilian infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack as an act of “demonstrative murder”, urging the international community to provide stronger defense assistance to Ukraine.
“This was not just a military operation — it was a message of terror,” Zelensky said in a televised address, reinforcing Ukraine’s plea for enhanced air defense systems and broader international support.
The latest escalation underscores the intensifying humanitarian cost of the war as it enters another deadly phase, with civilians once again bearing the brunt of the violence.
