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Devastating Russian Attack Wave on Ukrainian Cities

Russia launched one of the war's most devastating aerial assaults on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, killing at least 11 people and injuring 34 in what officials called a night of horror.

Eleni Papadaki-Van Der Merwe Staff Writer

JULY 2, 2026 AT 12:50 PM

At least eleven people were killed and a minimum of 34 others injured in the multi-hour onslaught, according to Nius. Multi-story buildings erupted in flames, including a hotel, while residential structures were completely destroyed across the targeted areas.

Rettungskräfte sind nach einem russischen Angriff mit der Brandbekämpfung beschäftigt. — Photo: nius.de

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha characterized the attack as a “night of horror” for the nation’s capital. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko described it as an enraged, hostile assault by Russian forces.

After military authorities issued warnings, numerous residents sought shelter in metro stations throughout the capital during the night leading into Thursday. The assault lasted for several hours as Russian military forces targeted Kyiv and additional major cities, including Zaporizhzhia in the country’s southeast.

The Kyiv Independent reported widespread devastation as emergency responders battled fires and worked through debris from the sustained bombardment. Ukrainian officials indicated the strikes represent some of the most severe aerial attacks the country has faced since the conflict began.

The coordinated wave employed a combination of weaponry including unmanned aerial vehicles, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles, marking an escalation in the intensity of Russian air operations against Ukrainian urban centers.

With information from Nius

Eleni Papadaki-Van Der Merwe

She was born in 1986 in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is the granddaughter of an immigrant from Crete who settled in the Greek community of Johannesburg (one of the largest in Africa). She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Political Science from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg and a master’s degree in Journalism from Rhodes University in Grahamstown. She began her career at English-language media outlets in Johannesburg, covering politics and economics, with a focus on issues related to migration and the diaspora. She moved to Athens in 2015 to “return to her roots,” initially to pursue graduate studies, and has remained there permanently. She is married to an Afrikaner; they have two children and live in the southern suburbs of Athens.