Ukraine Launches Largest Drone Attack of War as Russia Strikes Kyiv; Six Killed Near Moscow

Kyiv suffered a missile barrage causing fires across two districts while Ukraine struck a Russian rocket production facility in a long-range counterattack.

Fires broke out in at least two districts of Kyiv following a Russian missile barrage, the city's mayor confirmed, marking one of the more recent large-scale strikes on the Ukrainian capital. The attack came as Ukraine launched its own long-range strikes against Russian targets, including what Moscow described as its largest drone attack wave of the war, which killed at least six people and ignited fires near a warehouse close to the Russian capital. In Crimea, two explosions in Sevastopol killed six personnel, including a Ukrainian submarine commander who had reportedly defected to Russia. Separately, a Russian oil refinery struck by a Ukrainian drone was forced to shut down, with sanctions hampering repair efforts. Ukraine also struck a Russian rocket facility, a move that followed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy targeting Russia's satellite network infrastructure. The strikes are part of an intensifying pattern of exchanges: North Korean-supplied missiles have entered the conflict, with Zelenskyy confirming they struck the city of Zaporizhzhia in a deadly attack. Russia has deployed these munitions despite international condemnation of Pyongyang's involvement. On the diplomatic and economic front, Zelenskyy warned Egyptian officials that Russian attacks in the Black Sea are threatening Ukraine's grain export routes — a significant concern given Egypt's status as one of the world's largest wheat importers. Russia dismissed any proposal for a Black Sea ceasefire. Zelenskyy also cautioned that Russia's presidential election — from which anti-war candidates are barred — could be used by Putin as political cover for a major new military mobilization.

Why it matters

The escalating strikes on Kyiv and the involvement of North Korean missiles signal a broadening of the conflict's intensity and international dimensions. Disruption to Black Sea grain routes threatens food security for import-dependent nations across the Middle East and Africa.

What's next

Zelenskyy has warned that the outcome of Russia's presidential election may serve as a pretext for Putin to announce a significant new wave of military conscription.

Key facts

• Fires broke out in at least two Kyiv districts following the Russian missile barrage, per the city's mayor
• Ukraine conducted a long-range strike on a Russian rocket production facility
• North Korean missiles struck Zaporizhzhia in a confirmed deadly attack on war day 1,631
• Zelenskyy warned Egypt that Russian Black Sea strikes are jeopardizing Ukrainian grain exports
• Russia rejected proposals for a Black Sea ceasefire
• Zelenskyy said Russia's presidential election — barring anti-war candidates — could be used to justify a major new troop call-up

Bias & framing notes

All three sources are from The Guardian's own war briefing series, meaning there is no independent outlet corroboration — the reporting reflects a single editorial perspective. The framing centers heavily on Ukrainian and Western viewpoints; Russian official statements are noted only briefly (e.g., the ceasefire dismissal) without elaboration. The absence of Russian-sourced context on rationale for strikes is noted in the reporting but not deeply explored.

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