One killed and dozens injured as Russia fires missiles and drones at Kyiv

Russia carried out a large-scale missile and drone attack on Kyiv early Saturday, killing one person and injuring at least 27 others, just a day before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump for talks on the war.

Explosions echoed across the capital for hours as ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones struck multiple districts. Ukrainian officials said more than 10 residential buildings were damaged, with rescue teams evacuating people trapped under debris. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said a body was recovered from a collapsed building, while two children were among the wounded. Fires broke out in several high‑rise blocks, including an 18‑storey apartment building in the Dnipro district.

Russia’s defence ministry said it used long‑range precision weapons, including Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, and claimed the strikes targeted energy facilities and defence‑industry sites. Moscow described the attack as retaliation for what it said were Ukrainian strikes on civilian areas inside Russia.

Zelenskyy said Russia launched nearly 500 drones and around 40 missiles across the country, with Kyiv bearing the brunt of the assault. Large parts of the capital region were left without electricity or heating after strikes on energy infrastructure. Residents described chaotic scenes as buildings collapsed and fires spread. One woman told AP she heard a man screaming for help as he burned inside his apartment.

The attack triggered an air alert in neighbouring Poland, which scrambled fighter jets and temporarily closed two airports near the Ukrainian border. Authorities later said there was no violation of Polish airspace, and operations resumed after several hours.

The strike comes as Zelenskyy prepares to meet Trump in Florida on Sunday, where the two sides are expected to discuss a 20‑point peace framework, including security guarantees and territorial issues. Zelenskyy said Russia’s barrage was a deliberate message ahead of the talks, adding that “the Kinzhal and Shaheds speak for them.”

Rescue operations continued across several sites in Kyiv on Saturday, with authorities reporting that a third of the capital remained without power.