Ukraine survived yet another mass drone, missile attack, 1 killed, 9 injured in Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned a massive overnight Russian missile and drone assault on Ukraine as "an assault on humanity," following deadly strikes that killed at least two people and injured nine others on July 21.

Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched a staggering 450 drones and missiles during the multi-hour attack, which hit major urban centers including Kyiv, Kharkiv, and the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk.

Zelensky said the strikes once again targeted civilian infrastructure and residential neighborhoods, pointing to fires that broke out at a kindergarten and apartment buildings in Kyiv’s Dniprovskyi district. In Kharkiv and Ivano-Frankivsk, residential buildings were also damaged. He stressed that Russia’s attacks are not only military in nature but a continued assault on civilian life and human dignity.

Explosions were first reported in the capital, Kyiv, around 2:16 a.m. local time. Air raid alerts and the sounds of drones and secondary explosions continued until after 5 a.m., according to reporters on the ground. One person was killed in Kyiv, while nine others were reported injured. The second fatality from the nationwide assault was not immediately identified.

Smoke filled Kyiv’s Lukianivska metro station as residents took shelter underground. Witnesses described the chaos and damage. A woman living in an apartment building near the station said she sought refuge in a nearby parking lot and described hearing blasts as parts of her building were hit. Her third-floor apartment suffered heavy damage, with windows blown out and radiators destroyed. Thanks to the rapid response of firefighters, she said, the fire was extinguished before it could spread further.

Russia has escalated attacks on cities far from the front line in recent weeks. This latest assault marks one of the most extensive barrages since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.

In Ivano-Frankivsk, Mayor Ruslan Martsinkiv reported that air defenses were active overnight. He confirmed damage to three villages and injuries in one, noting that four civilians—including a child—were hurt in the strikes. He described it as the largest attack on the oblast since the start of the war.

In response to the wave of Russian missiles, Poland scrambled fighter jets early on July 21. The Polish Armed Forces Operational Command confirmed that Polish and allied air forces were activated, and radar and air defense systems were placed on high alert. A similar response was triggered during Russia’s previous large-scale attack on July 19.

The renewed Russian offensive came just days after Zelensky extended an invitation for peace talks with Moscow, proposing a new round of negotiations in Turkey focused in part on prisoner exchanges.

He said dialogue with Russia continues on that front and that his team is actively working on another prisoner swap, building on agreements reached during previous talks in Istanbul.

However, the Kremlin appears unmoved. On July 20, a Kremlin spokesperson reiterated that President Vladimir Putin remains focused on achieving his objectives militarily and is not prepared to soften Russia’s demands. The Russian side has insisted on sweeping conditions for any ceasefire, including Ukrainian withdrawal from contested territories and the dismantling of Western-supplied arms.

Meanwhile, the attack follows recent warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump, who announced on July 14 that unless a peace deal is reached within 50 days, Russia could face “severe” tariffs. Though similar ultimatums have been issued before, this latest warning reflects growing frustration in Washington over Moscow’s continued escalation.

As Ukraine reels from the damage of another mass assault, hopes for meaningful dialogue remain uncertain, clouded by the Kremlin's intransigence and ongoing attacks on civilian populations.