Russia unleashes nearly 600 missiles and drones on Kyiv in deadliest strike since May

Russia launched 1 of its heaviest overnight attacks connected Kyiv, firing hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles astatine nan Ukrainian superior successful a onslaught that tore done residential buildings, killed astatine slightest 18 group and wounded much than 90, according to Reuters.

Ukraine’s ambassador to nan United Nations, speaking from Ukraine exclusively pinch Fox News Digital, said nan battle marked "the astir horrific nighttime for Kyiv since nan opening of Russia’s full-scale invasion."

"Early this morning, I said pinch my mother-in-law, who is successful Kyiv. She told maine she had ne'er been truthful terrified. It felt arsenic if nan biblical Apocalypse were unfolding earlier her very eyes. Everyone was praying."

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Firefighters activity astatine nan tract of an flat building damaged during a Russian rocket and drone strike, amid Russia's onslaught connected Ukraine, successful Kyiv, Ukraine July 2, 2026. (Reuters)

The explosions shook central Kyiv for hours arsenic thousands of residents rushed into explosive shelters and underground metro stations. The onslaught caused nan widest demolition successful Kyiv truthful acold successful 2026 and was nan deadliest onslaught connected nan superior since astatine slightest May, erstwhile 24 group were killed successful an onslaught that brought down an flat block. 

Ukraine’s aerial unit said Russia launched 74 missiles and 496 drones overnight, according to Reuters. 

Yuri Ihnat, nan Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson, said nan number of ballistic missiles was unusually precocious and that nan interception complaint for them was low, arsenic Ukraine continues to look shortages of Patriot missiles.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who trim short a sojourn to Ireland and returned to Ukraine, said harm had been reported astatine much than 20 sites crossed nan capital.

"The main onslaught was directed astatine Kyiv," Zelenskyy said. "Air defence supplies for Ukraine are an absolute and captious priority."

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An detonation lights up nan entity complete nan metropolis during a Russian rocket and drone strike, amid Russia's onslaught connected Ukraine, successful Kyiv, Ukraine July 2, 2026. (Gleb Garanich/Reuters)

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko declared Friday a time of mourning and said harm had been recorded crossed nan metropolis of astir 3 cardinal people.

Melnyk told Fox News Digital nan onslaught should unit nan world organization to face Russia’s position wrong nan U.N. Security Council.

"And yet, this barbaric Russia continues to beryllium treated astatine nan U.N. arsenic a normal personnel state," he said. "It is clip to extremity this parallel reality. Russia’s position arsenic a imperishable member of nan Security Council should yet beryllium called into question. Russia should beryllium treated for what it has become: a pariah state."

Emergency crews searched done nan rubble of a nine-story building connected nan near slope of nan Dnipro River arsenic fires continued to pain aft sunrise. City officials said immoderate group remained trapped wrong damaged residential buildings.

East2West footage showed nan overnight barrage from wrong Kyiv, including a babe sleeping arsenic explosions flashed extracurricular an unfastened model and fume from an earlier onslaught roseate nearby. Other footage showed residents sheltering adjacent a metro position arsenic strikes deed nan capital, arsenic good arsenic dense harm crossed Kyiv, including residential buildings torn isolated and heavy fume hanging complete parts of nan city.

More than 20 sites were damaged, including residential buildings, negotiated accommodation and nan National Institute of Biochemistry, wherever a state-of-the-art laboratory and offices were gutted.

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Rescuers behaviour hunt and rescue operations astatine a multi-storey residential building damaged successful a monolithic Russian rocket and drone onslaught successful nan Darnytskyi territory of Kyiv, Ukraine, connected July 2, 2026.  (Kyrylo Chubotin/Ukrinform)

Katarina Mathernova, nan European Union’s ambassador to Ukraine, said Russia "unleashed hellhole connected Kyiv" overnight and struck accommodation utilized by negotiated personnel. Diplomats were not injured, but their belongings were damaged successful a occurrence that engulfed nan building, she said.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said successful a Telegram station that its "massive attack" utilized long-range, high-precision weapons and drones to onslaught subject and power facilities, arsenic good arsenic airports successful Kyiv and different locations. Moscow said nan onslaught was retaliation for Ukrainian drone strikes connected Russia. 

Ukraine said it hit an lipid refinery overnight successful Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region, wherever nan location politician reported 1 personification killed successful a onslaught connected an business facility.

The Kremlin said Russian subject commanders briefed Russian President Vladimir Putin connected nan attacks and said Moscow would proceed expanding unit connected Ukraine to execute its warfare aims.

Poland, a NATO and European Union personnel that borders Ukraine, concisely scrambled combatant jets arsenic a preventive measure. Finland besides concisely issued a impermanent aviation regularisation area successful nan eastbound Gulf of Finland, its defense forces said.

Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu told Fox News Digital that Russian drones were detected successful Ukraine astir 30 kilometers from Romania’s separator Wednesday, prompting NATO air-policing craft to respond.

"Two Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon combatant craft deployed nether nan Enhanced Air Policing ngo and operating from nan 86th Air Base successful Fetești successful Romania, were scrambled to show nan Romanian airspace business adjacent nan separator pinch Ukraine," Țoiu said. "A Romanian Air Force IAR 330 Puma chopper was besides deployed. Such incidents person perpetually accompanied Russia’s forbidden warfare of aggression against Ukraine."

EU overseas argumentation main Kaja Kallas said Thursday that she would propose caller sanctions connected entities supporting Russia’s military-industrial analyzable successful consequence to nan strikes.

"The much Moscow attacks civilians, nan much sanctions must beryllium imposed," Kallas said successful a station connected X.

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A female reacts adjacent an flat building damaged during a Russian rocket and drone strike, amid Russia's onslaught connected Ukraine, successful Kyiv, Ukraine July 2, 2026. (Viacheslav Ratynskyi/Reuters)

Russia has killed thousands of Ukrainian civilians successful strikes connected Kyiv and different Ukrainian cities since launching its full-scale penetration successful February 2022. 

Moscow denies intentionally targeting civilians but says attacks connected what it calls civilian infrastructure are morganatic because they impact Ukraine’s expertise to costs war.

Reuters contributed to this report.