Russian drone and missile barrage kills at least 12 in Ukraine’s Kyiv

KYIV, September 1 — At least eight people lost their lives in a "massive" Russian attack on Kyiv overnight, including seven at a railway depot, according to officials speaking on Tuesday. The strikes occurred as Ukrainian children were about to return to school after their summer break and as authorities upped security measures following a series of intensified Russian assaults on the capital.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that eight individuals were killed and five others wounded, including two children, in the overnight bombardment, which involved ballistic missiles and drones. Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, the CEO of Ukrainian Railways, confirmed that a missile struck a railway depot and other railway facilities in Kyiv, resulting in the deaths of six railway employees and the hospitalization of another.

The attack caused extensive damage, including the total destruction of a workshop and ongoing fires at certain sites. One person was killed in strikes in Boryspil, located east of Kyiv. The Russian defense ministry reported that its forces had executed a "massive strike" using long-range weapons and attack drones, targeting military-industrial and fuel and energy facilities in Kyiv and the surrounding area, as well as infrastructure in southern Odesa region and the ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk.

Kyiv regional military administration chief Tymur Tkachenko revealed via Telegram that the Kyiv region had been subjected to a significant assault by Russian missiles and strike drones overnight. Ukrainian air force personnel had warned residents of the persistent threat of "ballistic weapons and other means of attack against Kyiv and the region," urging them to remain in shelters.

Ukrainian children were set to resume their education on Tuesday, and the Kyiv regional military administration cautioned against hosting large gatherings in high-risk areas. In recent weeks, Kyiv and its surrounding regions have faced sustained pressure from Russian drone attacks, with jet-powered drones contributing to the threat and prompting numerous air-raid alerts daily.

The escalation of long-range strikes by both sides has resulted in increased civilian casualties, targeting infrastructure such as warehouses, businesses, oil and port facilities, and ships. Ukraine is currently facing a shortage of interceptor missiles, particularly US-made Patriot systems designed to counter ballistic threats.