Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has condemned what he described as a "massive and horrific attack" by Russia on Kyiv, launched overnight shortly after the departure of US envoys who had visited the Ukrainian capital as part of diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war.
Ukrainian authorities said the attack involved 166 drones and dozens of missiles, resulting in at least two deaths, multiple injuries and damage to residential and public infrastructure in Kyiv and the surrounding region.
Kyiv reports casualties and damage
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia targeted critical infrastructure in the Kyiv region during the overnight assault.
In a post on X, Zelenskyy described the operation as a complex attack involving ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles and Shahed-type drones.
In Kyiv and the region, as well as in many other regions, efforts to deal with the aftermath of the Russian strike have been underway since last night. It was a complex attack that the Russians tried to plan to cause as much harm to life as possible – ballistic missiles, cruise… pic.twitter.com/A6QNY51ltd
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 8, 2026
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least 10 people were injured in the capital. Authorities reported fires in a five-storey apartment building and a three-storey residential complex following the fall of debris.
Officials also said the attack damaged at least 14 apartment blocks, a dormitory, a school, a clinic, warehouses and other facilities.
Foreign minister calls for additional support
Sybiha linked the attack to the recent visit by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who met Zelenskyy as part of renewed diplomatic efforts.
"The moment the US President’s peace envoys left, Putin launched another massive, horrific attack against Kyiv," Sybiha wrote on X.
The moment the US President’s peace envoys left, Putin launched another massive, horrific attack against Kyiv, damaging residential areas and killing at least two people.
— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) September 8, 2026
His ballistic missiles speak louder than his words on diplomacy. Strike after strike on residential… pic.twitter.com/UwiW5LChf7
He called on Ukraine's allies to increase pressure on Moscow and provide additional air defence capabilities, saying Ukraine's stocks of systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles are reaching critical levels.
Air force details overnight attack
The Ukrainian Air Force said Russia launched 166 drones and multiple missiles during the overnight operation, with the Kyiv region and the southern Odesa region among the primary targets.
According to the military, Ukrainian air defences intercepted 142 drones, 31 of 32 cruise missiles, and two ballistic missiles. The Air Force did not disclose how many ballistic missiles were launched in total.
Russian account of the strikes
Russian state media, citing the Russian Defence Ministry, reported that Russian forces had targeted military objectives in Kyiv and the surrounding area, as well as facilities in the Black Sea port of Chornomorsk.
Casualties reported in Russia and Crimea
Russian officials also reported casualties from Ukrainian attacks.
Acting Bryansk region governor Yegor Kovalchuk said one person was killed in the town of Starodub near the Ukrainian border.
Meanwhile, Sergey Aksyonov, the Moscow-appointed head of Crimea, said two people were killed and one injured in a Ukrainian attack on the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014.
Authorities in Russia's Saratov region also reported injuries and damage to civilian infrastructure following a drone attack.
Polish military ends precautionary operation
The Polish Armed Forces said they had concluded precautionary air operations launched in response to the Russian strikes on Ukraine.
In a statement on X, the military said no violations of Polish airspace had been recorded.
Earlier, Poland had activated military procedures as a precaution during the missile attacks. Flight operations at Lublin Airport were briefly suspended before later resuming, according to Polish air navigation authorities.
Source: AFP/AMNA via Politis
