At least 12 people, including three children, were killed and dozens more injured in a fresh wave of Russian drone and missile strikes across Ukraine overnight, according to regional officials and the state emergency service.
The attacks struck multiple cities, igniting fires and destroying homes just a day after Kyiv endured one of the heaviest bombardments since the war began. Among the dead were three children—aged 8, 12, and 17—in the western Zhytomyr region, and an elderly man in the southern city of Mykolaiv.
In the Kyiv region, three people were confirmed dead and at least 16 injured after several residential buildings were set ablaze. Photos shared by officials showed scorched homes and emergency crews battling fires. The capital itself reported 11 injuries, multiple blazes, and widespread damage as residents took shelter in underground metro stations. The attacks came just hours before the city was to mark its annual Kyiv Day.
Elsewhere, Khmelnytskyi region saw four fatalities and several homes reduced to rubble. In Kharkiv, at least three people were wounded.
On the other side of the border, Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed its air defences intercepted 95 Ukrainian drones targeting eight regions, including Moscow. In the Tula region, drone debris damaged apartments but caused no injuries.
The escalation comes despite renewed diplomatic efforts. In recent days, Ukraine and Russia have carried out two major prisoner exchanges, with over 1,000 captives swapped. A third exchange is expected soon following rare face-to-face negotiations in Turkey.
Meanwhile, a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump explored a possible ceasefire. Trump described the discussion as “very successful,” hinting that negotiations could begin “immediately.” However, Moscow remains noncommittal—only expressing openness to drafting a “memorandum” on peace, but rejecting a 30-day ceasefire proposal.
As the death toll mounts, hopes for a meaningful truce remain clouded by continued violence and guarded diplomacy.
