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Russian missiles hit Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, 12 dead

Russian forces launched waves of drones and missiles at Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro, and Kharkiv, killing at least 12 people and wounding dozens more, according to Ukrainian officials. The attacks were described as the deadliest in months, with Ukraine's air force reporting it had downed or neutralized hundreds of projectiles.

By Tertius News AI Desk 7 outlets · 10 articles Version 1 Coverage Apr 3–25, 2026 Published Aug 15

Lead

Russian forces launched waves of drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities overnight into Thursday, killing at least 12 people and wounding dozens more, Ukrainian officials reported. The strikes targeted the capital Kyiv, the southern port city of Odesa, and the central city of Dnipro, as well as the northeastern city of Kharkiv, which faced repeated assaults.

Ukraine's air force said it had downed or neutralized hundreds of the incoming projectiles, but officials described the attacks as the deadliest in months, with residential buildings hit and fires breaking out in multiple locations.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting on the attacks varied in casualty figures and the scope of the assault, reflecting the fast-moving nature of the overnight strikes and the different regions affected.

ABC Australia reported that Russian forces attacked Kyiv and other cities, killing 12 people, while Africa News similarly cited Ukrainian reports of strikes on Kyiv, Odesa, and Dnipro, with at least 12 dead and dozens injured. Al Jazeera, focusing on the overnight attacks, said at least five people were killed and 30 wounded across eight regions, with Dnipro hardest hit.

BBC News reported a higher toll, saying more than 700 drones and missiles were launched in multiple waves, killing at least 18 people, and characterized the attacks as the deadliest in months. Deutsche Welle, in separate reports, gave figures of at least 13 and 14 killed, and detailed the intense bombardment of Kharkiv, with four rocket attacks and at least 20 drones striking the city. France 24 reported three killed, including a child, in overnight attacks, while the South China Morning Post said at least 16 people were killed, calling it the deadliest attack so far this year.

The variations in death tolls reflect the ongoing nature of the attacks, which continued into Friday, with authorities updating figures as more bodies were recovered.

Key Claims

Russian forces attacked Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro, and other cities with drones and missiles, killing at least 12 people and injuring dozens, according to Ukrainian officials and as reported by ABC Australia and Africa News.
The attacks were described as the deadliest in months by BBC News and Deutsche Welle, with BBC reporting more than 700 drones and missiles launched in multiple waves.
Ukraine's air force said it had downed or neutralized 636 drones and 31 missiles, a figure reported by Deutsche Welle, France 24, and the South China Morning Post. Other outlets gave different counts: Al Jazeera reported 619 drones and 47 missiles launched, while Deutsche Welle in another report said 542 drones and 37 missiles were launched since Thursday night.
In Kharkiv, four rocket attacks and at least 20 drone strikes hit the city, injuring five people including an eight-year-old girl, according to local authorities and reported by Deutsche Welle.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Russia had fired nearly 500 cruise missiles and drones during the latest barrage, as reported by Deutsche Welle.
The death tolls by city varied: BBC News reported nine killed in Odesa, five in Dnipro, and four in Kyiv; ABC Australia said four in Kyiv, six in Odesa, and two in Dnipro; and the South China Morning Post reported nine in Odesa and two in Dnipro.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attacks demonstrated that Russia did not deserve any easing of global policy or lifting of sanctions, with 100 people wounded alongside those killed, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
The defence leaders of more than 50 countries have said they are aiming to send more aid to Ukraine, and Britain has announced it will send 120,000 drones to Ukraine this year, according to ABC Australia.

Perspectives

Ukraine's government and military officials: Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, condemned the attacks, with Sybiha saying on X that "Russian terrorists reject diplomacy and peace efforts. They must get strong responses that they deserve." Zelenskyy called for continued international pressure on Russia, stating that "there can be no normalisation of Russia as it is today."

Russian authorities: Russian officials did not immediately comment on the attacks, but Moscow has previously said it targets military infrastructure. The BBC report noted that in Russia, two people, including a child, were killed in a Ukrainian drone attack in the southern Krasnodar region, according to Moscow.

International response: The defence leaders of more than 50 countries have said they are aiming to send more aid to Ukraine, and Britain has announced it will send 120,000 drones to Ukraine this year, as reported by ABC Australia. Poland scrambled fighter jets due to the Russian strikes on Ukraine, according to a report by France 24.