A significant Russian missile and drone attack has resulted in at least 13 fatalities and dozens of injuries across Ukraine, with apartment blocks hit in the capital, Kyiv. The overnight strikes, which also affected the city of Dnipro where nine people died, represent one of Moscow's most extensive assaults in recent months.

Emergency crews were actively searching for survivors feared trapped beneath rubble in Kyiv, as air raid warnings had been active across most of Ukraine in the early hours of Tuesday. The Russian defense ministry stated that the strikes were a retaliatory measure for previous Ukrainian attacks, claiming all objectives were achieved.

This escalation follows a warning from Moscow last week, where it pledged systematic strikes after accusing Kyiv of a deadly attack on a student dormitory in occupied eastern Ukraine. Kyiv, in turn, reported hitting a Russian military unit.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had anticipated a major strike in his Monday night address, urging residents to heed air raid alerts. On Tuesday morning, he reported that Russia deployed 656 strike drones and 73 missiles of various types, including ballistic, cruise, and anti-ship missiles, during the overnight offensive.

President Zelensky appealed for urgent assistance from the United States, specifically requesting a supply of missiles for Patriot systems to intercept Russian projectiles. He noted that Patriot missiles have been in short supply, a situation exacerbated by the conflict involving Iran. Former President Trump's administration had previously halted direct supplies to Ukraine, leading European allies to procure them from the US before onward transfer.

In Kyiv, large plumes of smoke were visible rising from the city center. The head of the capital's military administration had warned of ballistic missile launches, while Mayor Vitali Klitschko implored residents to remain in shelters. The sounds of drones and more than a dozen loud explosions were reported throughout the early morning hours as the strikes hit.

The attack caused damage to residential buildings and infrastructure, with Ukrainian authorities working to assess the full extent of the destruction and casualties. The number of injured, including children, underscores the civilian impact of the prolonged conflict.

This incident highlights the ongoing intensity of the war in Ukraine and the critical need for advanced air defense systems to protect civilian populations from aerial assaults. International reactions and further details on the humanitarian response are expected as the situation develops.