Weltschau

In the early hours of April 24, 2025, Russia launched another large-scale missile and drone attack on Ukraine, targeting multiple regions including the capital, Kyiv. The assault resulted in at least eight fatalities and over 70 injuries in Kyiv alone, marking one of the deadliest attacks on the city in recent months.

Picture: The map of the arial hazards targeting all of the regions of Ukraine monitored by ukrainealarm.com, 24.04.2025 at 00:47 am

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched a total of 215 aerial weapons during the night, comprising 70 missiles and 145 drones. Among the missiles that Russia used to strike Kyiv were KN-23 ballistic missiles that originated from North Korea (in addition to Kalibr cruise missiles and Iranian-supplied Shahed-136 drones). The use of several KN-23s was confirmed by analysis of the wreckage, which Defense Express specialists learned from their own sources. In the Air Force’s compilation, these missiles are usually listed as similar to the Russian Iskander-M.

Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted 112 of these threats, here is the latest breakdown of the used arms and intercepted targets:

• out of 11 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles 7 were shot down;
• out of 37 Kh-101 cruise missiles launched from Tu-95MS strategic bombers 31 were shot down;
• 6 Iskander-K cruise missiles, none of which were intercepted;
• 12 Kalibr cruise missiles 6 out of which were shot down;
• 4 Kh-59/Kh-69 guided aircraft missiles from tactical aircraft, all 4 were shot down
• 145 Shnahed strike UAVs/similar drones of various types, 64 were shot dow, another 68 were lost in location (without negative consequences), i.e. a total of 132 UAVs were neutralized.
• Despite these efforts, several missiles and drones penetrated the defenses, causing significant damage to residential areas and infrastructure.​

Ballistic missile explodes in the sky over Kyiv, pictured by REUTERS / Gleb Garanich

Photo: REUTERS / Gleb Garanich

The attack led to widespread destruction in Kyiv, with fires breaking out in multiple districts. The total count of the injured civilians are still being estimated as rescue operations are ongoing throughout the day, with emergency services working tirelessly to locate and assist victims trapped under the rubble. Among the injured reportedly were six children, highlighting the indiscriminate and brutal nature of the assault. ​

The aftermath of the strike on Kyiv pictured by REUTERS / Valentyn Ogirenko

Photo by REUTERS / Ivan Antypenko

In response to the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced he would cut short his official visit to South Africa to return to Ukraine. During his visit, he had been engaging in diplomatic discussions aimed at garnering international support for Ukraine’s defense efforts.

“Forty-four days since Ukraine agreed to a complete ceasefire and strikes. This was a proposal from the United States. Forty-four days since Russia continues to kill people and avoid significant pressure and responsibility for it. It is very important that everyone in the world sees and understands what is really happening. Approximately 70 missiles, including ballistic ones. Almost 150 more strike drones,”  — Zelenskyy emphasized.

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky has also made a public statement accusing Russia of the unconcealed terrorizing of the civilian population: “The occupiers, suffering critical losses at the front and not having any strategic gains, are acting using terrorist methods – striking at civilian infrastructure, at our cities, killing women and children.“

According to Syrsky, the actions of the occupiers once again prove that the Russian Federation does not want peace. — “All its activities are the targeted killing of Ukrainians and the destruction of Ukraine,” — the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine summed up.

This latest escalation underscores the ongoing volatility of the conflict and the urgent need for reinforced international support to bolster Ukraine’s air defense capabilities and protect its civilian population.

Photos: Suspilne News / Ivan Antipenko

Author credentials:

Mazchenko Hennadii

Bachelor’s degree in law – National Academy of Internal Affairs

Ongoing Master’s degree in journalism – Tavrida National V.I. Vernadsky University

Academic curator: Dosenko Anzhelika, Candidate of Sciences in Social Communications, Associate Professor