Russia struck Kyiv with missiles and drones overnight on 7 October: two people died in the Darnytskyi district and air defence downed more than 150 targets.
Overnight on 7 October, Vladimir Putin's birthday, Russia launched a massive combined strike on Kyiv and several regions. The first explosions in the capital were heard around 03:15, with a second wave around 05:15. At least two people were killed in the Darnytskyi district; they were found while firefighters put out a blaze at a garage site. Russia's Defence Ministry confirmed that it had carried out a "massive strike". Volunteers Support Ukraine extends its condolences to the families of the dead.
According to the authorities, debris and direct hits were recorded in four districts of the capital: Podilskyi, Obolonskyi, Darnytskyi and Shevchenkivskyi. Garages, warehouses, non-residential buildings and transport infrastructure were damaged. In the Darnytskyi district, bomb-disposal specialists neutralised an unexploded ballistic missile.
According to the Air Force, between 18:00 on 6 October and 09:00 on 7 October air defence neutralised five ballistic missiles, 39 cruise missiles and 117 drones, while damage was recorded at 18 locations. Kyiv, and the Kharkiv, Poltava and Dnipropetrovsk regions suffered most. Separately from the capital, people were killed and wounded in Pryluky, Kremenchuk and Oleksandriia — see our separate report.
On 6 October Zelensky warned that Russia was preparing a massive strike, with Tu-160 strategic bombers airborne; Ukrainians were urged to respond to missile-danger signals. Air-raid alerts in Kyiv are sounding almost constantly, and people often spend nights in basements, shelters and the metro.
NGO Volunteers Support Ukraine keeps helping people affected by the war in whatever way the available aid allows. Support for those living through the shelling matters every single day.
