Kyiv: Russia launched its largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, firing more than 800 drones and 13 missiles overnight that struck multiple cities, including Kyiv where a central government building was hit for the first time. According to Ukraine’s Air Force, out of the 805 drones and 13 missiles launched, 751 drones and four missiles were intercepted, though several others penetrated air defenses and caused widespread destruction.
In Kyiv, a government building housing the Cabinet of Ministers was struck, with smoke and fire seen rising from the upper floors. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed the damage and said, “We will restore the buildings. Lost lives cannot be returned.” The attack left at least three civilians dead, including an infant, and 18 others injured. Reports from the Associated Press also noted two fatalities, including a one-year-old child, and 15 people wounded, highlighting discrepancies in casualty figures.
Explosions were heard throughout the night in Ukraine. One of the largest attacks in the entire war, more than 20 cities were attacked. During the night, russia launched approximately 1000 attack drones, up to 8 Iskander-M ballistic missiles and up to 11 Iskander-K cruise… pic.twitter.com/3koTXefs8S
— Katerina Horbunova (@blue_eyedKeti) September 7, 2025
The strikes caused heavy damage in residential neighborhoods such as Darnytskyi and Sviatoshynskyi in Kyiv, where collapsed buildings and fires were reported after falling drone debris. Other cities, including Kremenchuk and Kryvyi Rih, were also targeted, with damage reported to transportation infrastructure, while in Odesa, civilian structures were struck.
Ukraine’s leaders described the barrage as one of the most destructive waves of attacks in the war and appealed to allies for additional air defense systems. Poland, concerned about spillover risks, activated its air defenses and deployed allied aircraft for cover along its eastern border.
The scale of the assault marked a sharp escalation in Russia’s tactics, combining drones and missiles in unprecedented numbers, and underscored the vulnerability of Ukraine’s urban centers, even as air defenses intercepted the majority of incoming threats.
