Kyiv in ruins: All about the massive attack, casualties and damage (photos)
A massive attack on Kyiv has left destruction and grief: people were killed, including a child, and dozens of injured are in hospitals. Rescuers continue to clear the rubble, pulling people out from under collapsed buildings.
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Destruction in Kyiv due to the attack on July 31
Russian forces launched a massive missile and drone attack on Kyiv during the night of July 31. The strikes caused damage in four districts of the capital. In particular, an entire entrance of a multi-story residential building was destroyed in the Sviatoshynskyi district. The enemy strikes resulted in casualties, with dozens injured. People are being rescued from the debris.
Read everything known about the night attack on Kyiv on TSN.ua.
The first explosions in Kyiv sounded around 11 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30. An air raid alert was announced due to the threat of Russian drones. An hour later, local authorities reported debris from downed drones falling in the Solomianskyi district, causing car fires.
Later it became clear that the destruction in Kyiv was much more extensive: consequences of the strikes were recorded in Solomianskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, and Holosiivskyi districts — about 30 locations in total.
The drones approached Kyiv from various directions, and just when things seemed to calm down, a missile attack followed an hour later.
Attack on Solomianskyi District
Throughout the night and morning, Head of the Kyiv City Military Administration Timur Tkachenko reported multiple attack sites in the Solomianskyi district. A fire broke out in a multi-story building and an educational facility; several non-residential premises, warehouses, and cars caught fire. Debris fell onto the ninth floor of a residential building and a car; a flat on the fifth floor caught fire.
Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that apartments in several buildings in the Solomianskyi district were damaged.
Sadly, there are casualties and injuries in this district.
Local resident Volodymyr told TSN that he had just returned from the frontlines and was at home during the attack.
“I was home. I’m disabled and had to put on my prosthetics… Just came back from the war. Came home, and then this happened,” he shared.
Damaged house in Solomyanskyi district
Attack on Sviatoshynskyi District
In the Sviatoshynskyi district, an entire entrance of a nine-story residential building was destroyed. Fires also broke out in several non-residential buildings. According to Tkachenko, the Russians struck the residential building “with direct fire.”
Search and rescue operations continue at the site of the strike on the nine-story building, involving the State Emergency Service and police. Rescuers are clearing rubble, with climbers and engineering equipment working on site.
“There are 56 apartments in this entrance, which is half destroyed and collapsed,” Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko commented.
“People were thrown out of their apartments from this very entrance. It was 5 a.m., and people were still resting,” the minister added.
Destruction in Kyiv after the July 31 attack / © Associated Press
Destruction in Kyiv after the July 31 attack
TSN correspondent Nataliya Nahorna filmed rescuers extracting a live man from the rubble.
Shevchenkivskyi District
In Shevchenkivskyi district, windows of an apartment building were damaged and cars burned. The blast wave shattered windows in a children’s ward of a medical facility.
Holosiivskyi District
Buildings were damaged in Holosiivskyi district, including a school and a kindergarten.
Casualties and injuries in Kyiv
So far, it is known that six people were killed as a result of the Russian attack on Kyiv, including a six-year-old boy. The number of injured has reached 82, with 10 children among them (including a five-month-old girl). Nearly 44 injured people are hospitalized.
“At this moment, we can confirm six deaths in Kyiv. Among them is a six-year-old boy who was rescued but despite doctors and emergency responders fighting for more than two hours, unfortunately, he could not be saved,” said Klymenko.
Demolition of a house in Kyiv / © Associated Press
Serhii Dubrov, director of Kyiv City Clinical Hospital No. 12, told Kyiv24 that about five patients are in serious condition due to the Russian attack and are undergoing surgery. The patients have severe injuries to internal organs, abdominal cavity, limbs, and head.
Kyiv attacked by “Shahed” rocket drones
The Interior Minister confirmed that the capital was also attacked by “Shahed” rocket drones overnight.
“Yes, there is preliminary information that rocket "Shaheds" were used — these have been used before on civilian and municipal infrastructure targets in Ukraine and Kyiv city. Specialists are now counting how many exactly were launched,” Klymenko said.
Zelenskyy’s reaction to the attack
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that during the night attack across the country, the occupiers launched over 300 drones and eight missiles. The Head of State expressed condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims.
“Today, the world once again saw Russia’s response to our and America’s and Europe’s desire for peace. New demonstrative killings. Therefore, peace without strength is impossible. But to force Moscow to peace, to make them sit at a real negotiating table — all the tools for this are with our partners. We expect that everything now announced by America and Europe toward this goal will be implemented,” Zelenskyy emphasized in his statement.