Russia strikes Kyiv with 700 missiles, killing four

Russia launched a massive overnight missile and drone attack on Kyiv, killing at least four people and injuring over 80, according to Ukrainian officials. The strikes, which included a nuclear-capable hypersonic Oreshnik missile, targeted residential buildings, schools, and infrastructure across the city, causing fires and significant damage in 40 locations. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 549 of 600 drones and 55 of 90 missiles, but the remaining strikes caused civilian casualties and destruction. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, calling it a deliberate act of violence against civilians. The strikes came after Russia accused Ukraine of targeting a student dormitory in the Russian-occupied Luhansk region, where 18 people were reportedly killed. Ukraine denied targeting civilians, stating it had struck a Russian military unit. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported damage in all districts, including a nine-story residential building hit in the Shevchenko district, where one person was killed. Emergency services worked through the night to extinguish fires and clear debris. Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously boasted about the Oreshnik missile's speed and claimed it was impossible to intercept. This was the third time Ukraine has been hit by the missile, following previous strikes in November 2024 and January 2026. Western leaders have condemned Russia's use of such weapons as escalatory and unacceptable.