Russian forces launched a large-scale strike on Kyiv before dawn, killing one and injuring 27 while hitting energy and residential infrastructure across the city. Ukraine reports Russia used about 519 drones and 40 missiles; Moscow said it employed long-range precision weapons, including Kinzhal missiles. More than 10 residential buildings were damaged and several high-rise fires erupted as rescuers searched for survivors. President Zelenskyy flew to Florida to discuss security guarantees and territorial issues with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Massive Overnight Strike on Kyiv Kills 1, Wounds 27 Ahead of Zelenskyy‑Trump Talks
Rescuers carry the body of a victim after Russian drone hit a multi-storey apartment building during a massive missile and drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Russian forces launched a heavy overnight assault on Kyiv using ballistic missiles and attack drones, killing one person and wounding 27, Ukrainian authorities said. The strikes came a day before President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Florida for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Attack and Damage
Explosions reverberated across Kyiv for hours as missiles and hundreds of drones struck multiple districts before dawn and into daylight. Ukraine's air force said Russia used some 519 drones and 40 missiles in the attack. The main targets, Ukrainian officials said, were energy and civilian infrastructure; some neighborhoods were left without electricity or heating.
The Russian Defense Ministry described the operation as a "massive strike," saying it employed long-range precision weapons from land, air and sea, including Kinzhal hypersonic aeroballistic missiles, and that it targeted energy facilities and military-industrial sites. Moscow said the attack was in response to what it described as Ukrainian strikes on civilian objects in Russian territory.
Casualties, Fires and Rescue Efforts
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported damage to more than 10 residential buildings and ongoing rescue operations to evacuate people from under rubble. Emergency services said fires erupted in high-rise blocks in Dnipro and Darnytsia districts and in other neighborhoods including Obolonskyi and Holosiivsky. In the wider Kyiv region, industrial and residential buildings were also hit.
Screams as a Man Burns to Death
Residents described scenes of devastation. Olena Karpenko, 52, told reporters she heard a man screaming as he was trapped in a burning building. "His scream is still in my ears. I can't believe it," she said. Officials confirmed one body was recovered from rubble and two children were among the wounded.
Regional Effects and International Response
Poland temporarily scrambled fighter jets and closed airports in Lublin and Rzeszow near the Ukrainian border; Polish authorities later said there was no violation of Polish airspace and both airports resumed operations. Russia reported shooting down seven Ukrainian drones over Krasnodar and Adygeya earlier in the night.
Zelenskyy Heads to Florida
President Zelenskyy departed Kyiv en route to Florida to meet President Trump. He said the agenda would prioritize security guarantees and territorial issues, including the status of parts of Donetsk and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and that Ukraine would not recognize any territory as Russian "under any circumstances." Speaking via an audio note while traveling, Zelenskyy called the timing of the strikes a message from Russia as talks with the United States approach.
Zelenskyy: 'Today Russia demonstrated how it responds to peace talks between Ukraine and the United States. They carried out massive attacks on Ukraine precisely as we move toward peace negotiations.'
The U.S. has discussed security guarantees that would mirror the spirit of NATO's Article 5, but details remain to be negotiated. Zelenskyy said he would also brief European leaders online following his meeting.
Associated Press writer Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn contributed to this report.
