Russia launches ‘massive attack’ on Kyiv and surrounding region – Europe live

Morning opening: Russia strikes Kyiv once againJakub KrupaAt least 12 people were killed and 40 injured in a series of Russian attacks on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.A boy looks at a damaged residential building following a Russian strike in Kyiv. Photograph: Tetiana Dzhafarova/AFP/Getty Images“It was a massive attack – the Russians had been preparing for a long time, combining different types of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones, aiming to cause as much damage as possible to civilian infrastructure. There is destruction in Kyiv and the region, as well as in the Odesa and Chernihiv regions,” Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.The attack will likely draw further attention to Ukraine’s shortage of air defence missiles.“While Moscow is investing in ballistic missiles and escalation, such strikes do not always receive the response they should from the world. And as long as Ukraine does not have enough anti-ballistic defence, Russia will not consider peace seriously,” Zelenskyy warned this morning.Pledging with allies to send more Patriot interceptors to help protect Ukraine, he stressed that “every additional missile saves the lives of our people.”More drone attack warnings from Kyiv were going live this morning.Responding to the overnight attacks, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko declared Friday a day of mourning in the city.I will bring you more updates throughout the day.It’s Thursday, 20 August 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.Good morning.Key events19m ago18 people hospitalised after overnight attacks on Kyiv26m agoMorning opening: Russia strikes Kyiv once againUkraine’s air ⁠force said that Russia ⁠had ⁠launched dozens ​of ballistic, cruise, and ⁠hypersonic missiles, as well as 168 ⁠drones in ​its ‌overnight attack ‌on the country.It said ‌that air defence units downed 145 drones and most of the cruise ‌missiles but none of the ​missiles that run on ballistic trajectory, Reuters said.President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has for month been pushing for more anti-ballistic missiles to be delivered to Ukraine.18 people hospitalised after overnight attacks on KyivKyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said 18 people have been hospitalised after the overnight attacks, with emergency and clean-up response continuing at various sites across three districts of the city.“The capital is recovering from a massive enemy attack,” he said in a video on Telegram.“Residential and non-residential buildings, a school, and a children’s hospital were damaged,” he added.The intensity of overnight strikes on Ukraine prompted Polish authorities to send emergency alerts to residents in two border regions.“A massive air attack is underway in western Ukraine. Follow the alerts,” read the notification sent to mobile phones just after 4am.The alert was called off about 90 minutes later.Poland’s military command also said it had mobilised aircraft and activated air defences aimed at protecting its airspace in areas bordering Ukraine.Morning opening: Russia strikes Kyiv once againJakub KrupaAt least 12 people were killed and 40 injured in a series of Russian attacks on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.A boy looks at a damaged residential building following a Russian strike in Kyiv. Photograph: Tetiana Dzhafarova/AFP/Getty Images“It was a massive attack – the Russians had been preparing for a long time, combining different types of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones, aiming to cause as much damage as possible to civilian infrastructure. There is destruction in Kyiv and the region, as well as in the Odesa and Chernihiv regions,” Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.The attack will likely draw further attention to Ukraine’s shortage of air defence missiles.“While Moscow is investing in ballistic missiles and escalation, such strikes do not always receive the response they should from the world. And as long as Ukraine does not have enough anti-ballistic defence, Russia will not consider peace seriously,” Zelenskyy warned this morning.Pledging with allies to send more Patriot interceptors to help protect Ukraine, he stressed that “every additional missile saves the lives of our people.”More drone attack warnings from Kyiv were going live this morning.Responding to the overnight attacks, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko declared Friday a day of mourning in the city.I will bring you more updates throughout the day.It’s Thursday, 20 August 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.Good morning.