Russian missiles and drones kill 11 and cause damage across Ukraine capital

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. World Russian missiles and drones kill 11 and cause damage across Ukraine capital July 2, 20261:47 AM ET By The Associated Press People look at the site of a Russian missile strike that hit a residential building in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, July 2, 2026. Danylo Antoniuk/AP hide caption toggle caption Danylo Antoniuk/AP KYIV, Ukraine — Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine's capital overnight into Thursday that killed at least eight people and injured dozens 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 11 people in Kyiv and damaged 20 residential buildings, according to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said 54 people were injured, including two children.

The Details

Damage was recorded in 30 locations across the city, mainly residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, he added. A woman walks past a burning apartment building after a Russian missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, July 2, 2026. Danylo Antoniuk/AP hide caption toggle caption Danylo Antoniuk/AP 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. Sponsor Message 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. Ukraine invasion — explained Inside a secretive Ukrainian team launching deep drone strikes at Russia 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.

Charter while Russia remained the aggressor. Kyiv Mayor Vitali 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.

What Experts Say

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.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.