Russia Unleashes Record Aerial Assault on Ukraine, Strikes Kyiv Government Building

KYIV, Sept. 7, 2025 - Russia launched its most extensive aerial attack of the war overnight into Sunday, deploying over 800 drones and missiles, igniting a fire in Ukraine’s Cabinet building in central Kyiv and killing at least two civilians, including an infant.

A massive barrage of unmanned aerial vehicles and 13 missiles struck multiple regions across Ukraine, marking the first time the capital’s main government edifice has been directly hit since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

Nut Graf

The unprecedented scale of the attack underscores a sharp escalation in Moscow’s air campaign, coming as Western efforts to broker a ceasefire stall. Kyiv officials condemned the strikes as “deliberate crimes” aimed at terrorizing civilians and prolonging the conflict.

Key Facts

  • Weaponry Deployed: 810 drones, four ballistic missiles, nine cruise missiles.
  • Air Defenses: Ukrainian forces intercepted 747 drones and four missiles, though 54 drones and nine missiles penetrated defenses.
  • Casualties: Two fatalities in Kyiv (including a mother and her infant), four deaths nationwide, and dozens injured.
  • Damage: Fire damaged upper floors of the Cabinet building; residential blocks hit in Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih, Sumy, and Chernihiv regions.

Residential Impact and Emergency Response

Emergency crews battled flames with helicopters and firefighters, while Kyiv residents sheltered under prolonged air-raid sirens. Smoke plumes over the Podilskyi district forced temporary road closures as debris-strewn streets hampered rescue operations.

Political Repercussions

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy decried the strikes on social media as “calculated crimes” and called for tighter sanctions and bolstered air defenses. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer publicly condemned the offensive, pledging renewed support for Ukraine’s security.

Looking Ahead

As Kyiv evaluates rebuilding options for its damaged government complex, analysts warn that sustained aerial pressure may aim to erode public morale and weaken Ukraine’s negotiating stance. International partners face mounting pressure to expedite delivery of advanced air-defense systems to deter future strikes.