Russia Pounds Kyiv, Other Regions in Mass Drone and Missile Attack

Russia Pounds Kyiv, Other Regions in Mass Drone and Missile Attack

Kyiv, Ukraine September 12, 2025 Russia launched one of its heaviest aerial assaults in weeks overnight, unleashing waves of drones and missiles across Ukraine that left at least a dozen people injured, knocked out power in multiple regions, and rattled nerves in the capital.

Ukrainian officials said air defenses shot down most of the incoming drones and missiles, but several managed to strike residential and infrastructure targets in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and the Dnipro region. Explosions thundered through central Kyiv shortly after 3 a.m., sending residents into shelters.

Scale of the Attack

According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Russia launched more than 70 Shahed drones and 40 cruise missiles from multiple directions. The majority were intercepted, but fragments from downed drones damaged apartment buildings, cars, and power lines.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least seven people were injured in the capital, including a mother and her young child, after debris crashed through the roof of an apartment block. In the central Dnipro region, emergency services reported at least five more injuries and significant damage to an energy facility.

Russia’s Strategy

Moscow has increasingly relied on large-scale drone and missile barrages to sap Ukraine’s air defenses and disrupt its power grid, a strategy that recalls last winter’s brutal campaign against civilian infrastructure.

“This was a deliberate attempt to terrorize the population,” said Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s military administration. “The scale of the attack shows Russia is preparing for a long conflict.”

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed the strikes targeted “military and energy infrastructure” in retaliation for Ukrainian operations along the front lines.

International Response

The attack drew swift condemnation from Western governments. The European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called it “a cowardly act of terror against civilians,” while the White House reaffirmed its commitment to delivering additional air defense systems to Ukraine.

At the United Nations, Ukraine’s ambassador urged members not to look away. “Every drone, every missile that hits our cities is a reminder that this war is not frozen — it is raging,” he said.

Life Under Fire

For Kyiv residents, the strikes were an unsettling reminder of the war’s endurance. “We woke up to the sound of the windows shaking,” said Olha, a 29-year-old teacher who spent three hours in a basement shelter with her neighbors. “It feels like the war has no end.”

Centrist View

From a centrist perspective, Russia’s latest assault highlights the grim cycle of escalation: Moscow pushes to exhaust Ukraine’s defenses, Kyiv rallies Western support, and civilians bear the brunt. The attacks will intensify calls in Europe and the U.S. for sustained assistance, while also raising questions about how long such support can be maintained amid political fatigue.