— In the largest overnight air assault since the 2022 full-scale invasion, Russia launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Ukraine, setting fire to the main government building in Kyiv’s Pecherskyi district and killing three people, including an infant, Ukrainian officials said.
Key Takeaways
- Russia launched 805 drones and 13 missiles overnight; Ukraine reports shooting down 751 drones and four missiles.
- The main government building in Kyiv suffered roof and upper-floor damage from fire.
- At least three people were killed (including an infant) and 18 were injured in Kyiv.
- Residential blocks in Darnytskyi, Sviatoshynskyi and other districts were damaged; fires were widely reported.
- Explosions also struck Kremenchuk, Kryvyi Rih and Odesa, damaging infrastructure and residential buildings.
- Poland activated aircraft to bolster air safety in western Ukraine amid the strikes.
Verified Facts
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russian forces launched 805 drones and 13 missiles during the overnight assault; Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 751 drones and four missiles, according to official Telegram statements. Reuters witnesses and local officials observed heavy smoke rising from the top floors of the main government building in the historic Pecherskyi district after sunrise.
Kyiv city and regional emergency services said fires broke out in several apartment blocks. In Darnytskyi district a four-storey residential building was damaged and rescuers recovered the body of an infant from the rubble; a young woman also died in that district. Overall, state emergency services reported 18 people injured in the Kyiv attacks.
In Sviatoshynskyi district, several floors of a nine-storey block were partially destroyed; falling drone debris also ignited fires in a 16-storey block and additional nine-storey buildings, city officials said. Separate explosions were reported in central cities including Kremenchuk, where some power outages and bridge damage were noted, and in Kryvyi Rih and Odesa where infrastructure and residential buildings sustained damage.
Context & Impact
This wave of drones was the largest deployment Russia has used against Ukraine since the 2022 invasion, marking a significant intensification in aerial pressure on urban areas. The scale tested Ukraine’s air defenses and emergency services across multiple regions simultaneously.
Damage to the main government building carries symbolic weight, representing an unprecedented strike on Kyiv’s central administration. Officials called for additional international weapons support to strengthen air defenses and protect populated areas.
Practical effects include increased civilian displacement in hit districts, repair needs for damaged housing and infrastructure, and potential interruptions to local services where utilities and bridges were hit.
- Immediate needs: emergency shelter, medical care for the injured, and fire suppression resources.
- Medium term: assessment and repair of damaged residential towers and transport links.
- Strategic: Ukraine may accelerate requests for additional air-defense systems from partners.
Official Statements
“For the first time, the Government building was damaged by an enemy strike — its roof and upper floors.”
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko (Telegram)
“The enemy terrorizes and kills our people across the country every day.”
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko (Telegram)
Unconfirmed
- Claims that Russia deliberately targeted civilian structures remain assertions by Ukrainian officials; independent open-source verification is pending.
- Exact totals for casualties and building damage may change as rescue and assessment work continues.
Bottom Line
The Sept. 7 assault, using an unprecedented number of drones, inflicted both symbolic and human damage in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. The attack has reinforced Ukrainian calls for more air-defense capabilities and will shape short-term humanitarian and reconstruction priorities.