Russia’s Largest Drone and Missile Attack Devastates Kyiv on 31 July 2025

Russia Launches Massive Deadly Strike on Kyiv – July 31, 2025

On the night of July 31, 2025, Russia launched one of its most devastating attacks on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, targeting multiple civilian and infrastructure zones with an overwhelming barrage of drones and cruise missiles. Ukrainian authorities reported that nearly 300 Iranian-made Shahed-style drones and at least eight cruise missiles were deployed in a coordinated aerial assault that lasted more than seven hours. The strikes struck 27 different locations across four key districts of Kyiv, causing severe damage to residential buildings, hospitals, kindergartens, and even schools. Entire neighborhoods were rocked by the thunderous explosions, and widespread panic spread as air raid sirens blared through the night.

According to local officials, six civilians lost their lives in the attack, including a six-year-old boy and his mother, while over 80 others were injured. The emergency response teams reported that many of the injured sustained serious burns, shrapnel wounds, or were rescued from collapsed buildings. Among the wounded were nine children, some of whom remain in critical condition. While Ukraine’s air defense successfully intercepted the majority of the incoming threats—downing 288 drones and three missiles—the remaining projectiles managed to breach defenses and hit densely populated areas. Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, condemned the attack as an act of terror against civilians and stressed that no military installations were located near the damaged zones.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted swiftly, describing the assault as pure terrorism and calling for immediate international intervention. He urged global leaders to intensify sanctions on Russia and provide more advanced defense systems to Ukraine to protect civilians. Eyewitnesses described the horrifying moments, recounting how windows shattered and walls collapsed as families tried to find shelter in darkness. “It felt like the world was ending,” said one survivor who escaped from a collapsed apartment building with her injured son.

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that the operation was aimed at destroying Ukrainian military facilities, including ammunition storage sites and strategic infrastructure. However, visual evidence and damage assessments from Kyiv strongly contradict those claims, as most of the destruction clearly affected civilian locations. In addition to the drone and missile barrage, Russian ground forces claimed to have captured the key town of Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region, a move that, if verified, could have serious strategic implications for the eastern front of the war.

The international response was swift and forceful. The United Nations, NATO, and the European Union issued statements condemning the attack in the strongest terms, calling it a gross violation of international law and human rights. Humanitarian agencies began mobilizing aid, including emergency medical support, food supplies, and temporary housing for those displaced by the bombing. As Ukraine continues to defend its sovereignty against escalating aggression, this latest attack serves as a grim reminder that the war is far from over, and the world must act decisively to prevent further atrocities against innocent civilians.