Ukraine says 15 killed, more than 140 injured in Russian airstrikes on Kyiv
‘Peace without strength is impossible,’ says President Zelenskyy, arguing tools to 'force' Moscow to make peace are in hands of Kyiv's partners
A view at a residential building damaged by a Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine on July 31, 2025.
ISTANBUL
Ukraine said Thursday that at least 15 people were killed and more than 140 injured in overnight Russian airstrikes on Kyiv.
"The death toll from the Russian strike on Kyiv has risen to 15, including one child. 145 people were injured, including 14 children," said a statement by Ukraine's State Emergency Service, noting that search and rescue efforts are ongoing.
Tymur Tkachenko, the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration (KMVA), said on Telegram that the overnight attack damaged more than 100 infrastructure objects, including residential buildings, schools, kindergartens, medical institutions and a university.
He said that more than 300 personnel are involved, thanking Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko and State Emergency Service head Andriy Danyk for their assistance on the spot and for coordinating search and rescue efforts.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X that the attack also damaged the Islamic Cultural Centre.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy argued that “peace without strength is impossible,” noting that the strikes also affected the Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Sumy and Mykolaiv regions.
“Forcing Moscow to make peace, compelling them to come to a real negotiating table -- all the tools needed for this are in the hands of our partners. We are counting on everything now being voiced by America and Europe toward this goal to be fulfilled,” he said in a statement on Telegram.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Air Force claimed on Telegram that the country’s air defenses shot down 288 out of 309 drones, as well as three of eight Iskander-K cruise missiles, launched by Russia overnight.
It said direct hits from five missiles and 21 drones were recorded across the country, including one missile that struck a residential building in Kyiv.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed it carried out a coordinated strike overnight on enterprises of Ukraine’s military-industrial complex, the infrastructure of a military airfield and a warehouse storing ammunition, missiles, and components for drone production.
“The strike targets were achieved; all designated objects were hit,” it said.
