At least seven people have been killed in Ukrainian cities after Russia launched a wave of ballistic missiles and drones across the country overnight, hours after Volodymyr Zelensky warned of an impending “massive attack” by Moscow.
Explosions echoed across Kyiv in the early hours of Thursday as air raid sirens sounded in the capital. Ukrainian officials said at least one person was killed in the capital, where falling debris sparked fires at several non-residential sites in the Sviatoshynskyi and Obolon districts.
The western city of Lviv, close to the Polish border, also came under attack. Two apartment buildings were damaged and at least six people were injured, according to local authorities.
At least six people, including children, have been killed and eight others injured in a Russian missile attack on Kryvyi Rih, Ukrainian officials said.
As the attacks unfolded, Poland protectively scrambled fighter jets to protect its airspace.
Zelensky earlier pleaded for help from the US and allies, saying Ukraine urgently needed more air defences as there was a “high probability” that Vladimir Putin would execute the planned strike.
Latest pictures show Kyiv residents taking shelter in metro stations
Residents in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, took shelter in metro stations as Russia launched missile and drone attacks.
Families stayed overnight in the crowded underground stations amid warnings of a large-scale Russian attack.
F-16 fight jet crashes after a malfunction
An F-16 fighter jet crashed on a frontline mission, the Ukrainian air force said on Wednesday.
Its pilot was safe after he ejected and was transported to a medical institution for treatment.
In a statement, the air force said the aircraft was carrying out a frontline assignment to intercept Russian airborne targets before it crashed.
Experts were examining the crash site.
Ukraine has received multiple F-16s from NATO countries, including the Netherlands and Denmark.
What's happening in Ukraine after Zelensky's warning of massive Russian attack
- Russia launched a large-scale overnight attack on Ukraine, firing ballistic missiles and drones at multiple regions.
- Kyiv came under heavy bombardment, with at least one person killed. Explosions were heard across the capital and several non-residential buildings caught fire after falling debris.
- Lviv, near the Polish border, was also struck. Two apartment buildings were damaged and six people were injured, according to local officials.
- At least six people, including children, have been killed and eight others injured in a Russian missile attack on Kryvyi Rih, Ukrainian officials said.
- Air raid alerts were issued across most of Ukraine as authorities warned of widespread missile and drone attacks.
- Poland scrambled fighter jets and put its air defence systems on high alert to safeguard Nato airspace during the Russian strikes.
Six killed, including children, in Russian strike in central Ukraine
At least six people, including children, have been killed and eight others injured in a Russian missile attack on Kryvyi Rih, Ukrainian officials said.
Emergency crews are responding as the full extent of the damage is still being assessed.
Russia launches dozens of ballistic missiles amid massive attack warning
Russia launched dozens of ballistic missiles and drones at Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday, with damage reported in Kyiv and Lviv.
Residential buildings in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv were damaged in Russian airstrikes, Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said on Telegram, citing preliminary reports and urging residents to seek shelter.
At least one person was killed in the capital, Kyiv, the city's military administration reported.
Fires also broke out at non-residential properties in Kyiv's Sviatoshynskyi and Obolon districts after falling debris struck buildings, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
Volodymyr Zelensky warned of a "massive attack" by Russia overnight and called on allies to provide additional air defence missiles.
He said Ukraine's air force had informed him that Russia had been preparing a large-scale attack for several days and that there was a "high probability" it would take place overnight.
In focus: How the wars in Iran and Ukraine are colliding on the world’s largest lake
Fears have mounted over the world’s two major wars converging after Ukraine attacked an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea, with Tehran vowing to respond.
Iran claimed one sailor was killed and another injured in the Ukrainian attack, as the ministry summoned Ukraine’s chargé d’affaires in Tehran to protest against what it described as a “hostile and criminal” act.
Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday the reported strike on a commercial vessel “cannot go unanswered” in a call with the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov.
Telegram's billionaire founder Pavel Durov has faced legal woes before -- in Russia and France
Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of the Telegram messaging app, has repeatedly run into trouble with both the Kremlin and Western officials as he cast himself as a champion of free speech.
On Wednesday, Russia's Federal Security Service, or FSB, accused him of aiding what it called terrorist activities. It also said it was adding Durov’s name to international wanted lists.
The Russian-born Durov, 41, responded to the charges by posting an image of himself raising a middle finger on Telegram's official account on X. He has denounced previous Kremlin attempts to restrict Telegram as an attack on freedom of expression.
The case marks an escalation of the Kremlin’s efforts to tighten control over the internet and digital communications as it prepares for parliamentary elections in September amid rising public fatigue with the 4-year-old war in Ukraine and its growing economic fallout.
Pilot safe after F-16 aircraft crash
A pilot was forced to eject one of Ukraine’s F-16 fighter aircraft after a malfunction occurred, the air force said on Wednesday.
In a statement, the air force said the aircraft was carrying out a frontline assignment to intercept Russian airborne targets before it crashed.
The pilot was transported to a medical institution for treatment and experts examined the site of the crash.
Ukraine has received US-made F-16s from a number of Nato countries, including the Netherlands and Denmark.
Watch: Zelensky meets Lockheed Martin team to discuss 'further development of cooperation'
Zelensky counting on 'practical results' from Trump meeting
Volodymyr Zelensky said he is counting on “practical results” after his meeting in Washington on Tuesday.
The Ukrainian president said he briefed Norway’s prime minister on his talks in Washington, which he said were “good” and resulted in diplomatic progress.
“We are very much counting on practical results, and protection against ballistic missiles is the first priority and an everyday need.
“Patriot missiles and our joint production efforts are what save people’s lives. It is important that we achieve this anti-ballistic progress with America.
“We also discussed opportunities for pushing Russia toward diplomacy. And we addressed the risks – first and foremost, what could happen this winter.”
I spoke with the Prime Minister of Norway. Thank you, @jonasgahrstore, for your unwavering support and readiness to work together. I briefed the Prime Minister on how things went in Washington. We had good meetings, and there has been diplomatic progress. We are very much…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 29, 2026