Massive Russian Missile and Drone Attack on Ukraine: At Least 10 Dead

Russian forces launched a large-scale overnight aerial attack on Kyiv and several other Ukrainian cities on July 2, hitting residential buildings, leaving at least 10 dead and 56 injured.

Devastating Attacks Across Ukraine

Ukrainian authorities reported that Russian forces conducted a massive assault on Kyiv using missiles and drones on Wednesday night into Thursday. The strikes hit multiple locations, including residential buildings.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed on Telegram that at least 10 people have died and at least 56 are injured, including two children. Rescue operations are ongoing, and the death toll may rise.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, other cities including Mykolaiv, Kryvyi Rih, Poltava, Kharkiv, and Cherkasy were also targeted. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was visiting Ireland, decided to return to Ukraine immediately following the warnings of an impending massive attack.

Damage in the Capital

The strikes caused a partial collapse of a multi-story residential building in Kyiv, trapping residents on upper floors. A fire also broke out on the roof of a hotel located on Shevchenko Boulevard in the city center.

Mayor Klitschko noted that Kyiv was attacked by a combination of drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles. In total, 28 targets were hit across all districts of the city on both sides of the Dnieper River.

Polish Airspace Security Measures

In response to the overnight attacks, the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces (DORSZ) initiated defensive operations involving military aircraft to secure Polish airspace. The command confirmed that no violations of Polish airspace were recorded during the mission.

Polish fighter jets and ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems were placed on high alert as a preventive measure. DORSZ expressed gratitude to NATO allies, including the French Air Force and the Dutch Armed Forces, for their support in safeguarding the airspace.