Russia launches overnight drone and missile barrage on Ukraine

Russia launched a large-scale overnight barrage of drones and missiles at Kyiv and the surrounding region early on September 8, killing at least two people and injuring 10, according to Ukrainian officials. Explosions were reported in the capital from around 3:30 a.m. local time as air raid alerts sounded through the night and air defenses responded. Ukrainian authorities said residential buildings, a school, warehouses, vehicles and other civilian sites were damaged in Kyiv and Kyiv region. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said three of the injured were hospitalized. ### What hit Kyiv overnight? Ukraine’s Air Force warned overnight that ballistic missiles and jet-powered strike drones were heading toward Kyiv, according to alerts posted on its Telegram channel. Separate Air Force posts warned of additional ballistic missiles aimed at the capital and of jet-powered drones over Kyiv and Kyiv region. The Kyiv Independent, citing local officials and journalists on the ground, reported that Russia used ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones in the attack. (kyivindependent.com) TRT World, citing Ukrainian officials, reported that the barrage also included cruise missiles and that repeated alerts sounded as waves of drones and missiles targeted the capital and other parts of Ukraine. (t.me) ### Where was the damage reported? Kyiv city authorities said at least two multistory residential buildings were damaged in the capital. The State Emergency Service said fires broke out in several districts and rescuers were deployed to damaged sites across the city. TRT World, citing Ukrainian officials, reported damage at an educational institution in Holosiivskyi district and in non-residential areas of Podilskyi and Darnytskyi districts. (kyivindependent.com) It said rescuers pulled people from a 16-story apartment building, evacuated 13 people from locations across Kyiv and helped 10 people trapped in a five-story residential building in Solomianskyi district. ### What casualty figures were reported? (kyivindependent.com) Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said two people were killed and 10 others were injured in the attack. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko earlier said at least six people were injured, with three hospitalized, before later casualty updates from emergency officials raised the total. The reported toll was still developing on September 8. (trtworld.com) The Kyiv Independent said local officials were continuing to update casualty and damage figures as emergency crews worked at the sites of impact. ### Did the strike come after a pause in attacks on the capitals? The September 8 attack followed what Ukrainian and international media described as a brief pause in aerial attacks on Moscow and Kyiv. (kyivindependent.com) The Kyiv Independent reported that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to pause aerial attacks on each other’s capitals for three days, though it said the precise expiration date of that truce was unclear. TRT World reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered the pause in attacks while U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited the Russian and Ukrainian capitals over the weekend. That account, attributed to Ukrainian officials and media reporting, framed the overnight barrage as the resumption of large-scale strikes on Kyiv after the short lull. ### What comes next? September 8 updates from Ukraine’s Air Force and Kyiv officials indicated the response was still underway as the morning progressed. (kyivindependent.com) Emergency crews were continuing rescue and fire-suppression work at damaged sites, and local authorities were still publishing casualty and damage assessments. (trtworld.com)