In the early hours of Sunday, May 4, 2025, Russia launched a drone attack on Kyiv, igniting fires in multiple residential buildings and vehicles across the city, according to Ukrainian military officials and local authorities. The assault, which began shortly after midnight local time, prompted air-raid alerts in Kyiv, its surrounding region, and eastern Ukraine for approximately an hour.

Timur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, reported that debris from destroyed drones caused fires in the Obolonskyi and Sviatoshynskyi districts. Several cars throughout the city also caught fire due to falling drone fragments.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that emergency medical teams were dispatched to the Sviatoshynskyi district to provide assistance. Residents recounted hearing multiple explosions, which were believed to be the result of air defense systems intercepting incoming drones.

There was no immediate comment from Moscow regarding the attack. The incident occurred amid discussions about potential ceasefires during Russia’s May 8-10 commemorations of the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II. Russia has declared a three-day ceasefire for those dates, while Ukraine has proposed a 30-day cessation of hostilities.

In a related development, a Russian drone strike in the central Ukrainian region of Cherkasy sparked several fires late Saturday. According to preliminary information, there were no injuries reported.

Both Russia and Ukraine maintain that they do not target civilians in the ongoing conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine over three years ago

Source: Reuters