Kyiv: Several areas of Ukraine, particularly the capital, Kyiv, witnessed a large-scale Russian missile and drone attack in the early hours of Friday morning, resulting in fatalities and damage to dozens of residential buildings, according to authorities. Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that it had shot down more than 200 Ukrainian drones overnight in the skies over southern regions and along the Black Sea coast.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the Russian attack on Kyiv overnight had killed four people, accusing Moscow of deliberately targeting civilians. Zelenskyy indicated that "approximately 430 drones and 18 missiles" were used in the Russian attack, which he described as "deliberately designed to inflict maximum damage on the population and civilian infrastructure."

The head of the Kyiv military administration, Timur Tkachenko, said that the Russians were shelling "residential buildings. There are many high-rise buildings that have been damaged throughout Kyiv, in every district." Kyiv police reported that the number of buildings damaged overnight was close to thirty.

Russia, whose army is superior to Ukrainian forces in terms of capabilities and military equipment, continues its offensive, which began in 2022, and is still advancing in eastern Ukraine, particularly in the Donetsk region, where most of the fighting has recently been concentrated.

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Telegram that its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 216 Ukrainian drones last night, including 66 over the Krasnodar region and 59 over the Black Sea.

Peace negotiations between the two countries remain stalled after the postponement of a meeting that was scheduled to take place in Budapest between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.