Reports: Russian jet drones hit Kyiv; Inland strikes escalate

An hours-long Russian aerial barrage targeted Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, Thursday morning, with at least six explosions heard initially around 3 a.m., the Kyiv Independent reported. After sunrise, Russia launched another attack on Kyiv that included jet-powered drones and lasted the entirety of the day, according to the Independent. A sports arena near the president’s office was damaged in the attack although the office itself was spared, the Independent said.

One Ukrainian writer posted phone screenshots showing about 20 air-raid alerts she’d received by midday Thursday. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on social media that at least four Kyiv citizens were injured in the attacks. The barrage followed an intense bombardment of Kyiv exactly one week ago, where Russian missiles and drones killed at least 15 people and injured at least 30 in the city, Klitschko shared on Telegram. Other attacks throughout the country caused additional casualties.

What has been happening in Russia? Earlier this month, Ukraine launched two major salvos aimed at the Moscow region. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that the second set saw over 600 drones flying toward the region, where 180 were shot down, but didn’t detail how much damage they caused. An Associated Press report called the attack Ukraine’s second-largest going back to January 2025.

What’s the bigger picture? Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha emphasized the global impact of Russia’s bombardments following the recent attacks. Every two and a half acres of Ukrainian agricultural land feeds 18 people globally, he said on Thursday. He said attacks on Ukrainian grain infrastructure, ports, and maritime routes were harmful to roughly 400 million people around the world.