By Erestinah Jane, July 6, 2026
Rescue teams are continuing search-and-rescue operations in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, after a large-scale Russian missile and drone attack struck residential neighborhoods, killing at least nine people and injuring 46 others, including several children.
Emergency responders are working around the clock in the Podilskyi and Darnytskyi districts, where apartment buildings suffered extensive damage. Authorities fear the death toll could rise as crews continue searching through the rubble for survivors.
The overnight assault marks the second major attack on Kyiv in less than a week, following another deadly strike on July 2 that left dozens of civilians dead and injured.
In Podilskyi district, a Russian missile hit a nine-storey residential building, destroying the upper floors from the fifth to the ninth level. Firefighters and rescue workers used ladders and specialized equipment to evacuate trapped residents, successfully rescuing 15 people, including three women and six children.
In Darnytskyi district, debris from intercepted missiles caused extensive structural damage and sparked multiple fires in a 25-storey apartment block. Rescue crews have concentrated their efforts on the upper floors, where several residents are believed to have been trapped following the explosions.
Regional officials also confirmed that another person was killed and at least 15 others injured in the wider Kyiv region as the attack affected surrounding communities.
The latest bombardment came just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned of an imminent escalation, citing intelligence reports indicating that Russia was preparing another wave of missile and drone attacks.
The timing of the strike is particularly significant as it comes on the eve of a key NATO summit in Turkey, where President Zelensky is expected to meet international leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, to discuss additional military assistance and regional security.
Following the latest attacks, Ukrainian officials renewed calls for Western allies to strengthen the country’s air defence capabilities by supplying additional advanced systems, including Patriot missile batteries, to better protect civilian populations and critical infrastructure from continued aerial bombardment.
Emergency services remain at the affected sites as search operations continue, while engineers assess the structural stability of damaged buildings and provide temporary shelter to displaced
