Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Russian Ballistic Missile Strikes Kill At Least 12 in Kyiv
Russian missiles hit Kyiv early on Thursday.
City officials later said 12 people were killed and more than 30 were injured.
An earlier report gave lower numbers, saying three people died and 20 were hurt.
Another person was reported killed in the area around Kyiv.
Buildings, warehouses, a school, and a children’s hospital were damaged.
A fire destroyed the upper floors of a nine-story apartment building.
About 90,000 homes lost electricity for a time.
Russia said it was attacking military and war-related facilities.
The attack happened while Russia and Ukraine are still fighting and attempts to arrange a ceasefire have not succeeded.
Russian ballistic missiles struck Kyiv early Thursday, with authorities reporting 12 deaths and more than 30 injuries in the latest account.
An earlier casualty report from Kyiv’s mayor said at least three people were killed and 20 injured; another person died in the surrounding region.
The strikes damaged apartment and non-residential buildings, warehouses, a school, and a children’s hospital, while a nine-story residential block caught fire and lost its upper floors.
About 90,000 homes temporarily lost power, and DTEK said it restored electricity to more than half of them.
Russia said it targeted drone-component facilities, a military depot, and a logistics hub; the attack occurred amid continuing war and stalled ceasefire efforts.
- Who
- Russian forces were reported to have launched the attack; Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko and other Ukrainian officials reported the casualties and damage. Russia’s Defence Ministry described its intended targets.
- What
- A Russian ballistic-missile and drone attack on Kyiv and the surrounding region caused deaths, injuries, fires, structural damage, and power outages.
- When
- Early Thursday, August 20; the articles do not specify the year.
- Where
- Kyiv, including the Solomianskyi district, and the region surrounding the Ukrainian capital. A drone also crashed in Romania and another crossed Moldova’s airspace.
- Why
- The strike occurred during Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. Russia said it targeted drone-component facilities, a military depot, a logistics hub, and other targets; no more specific immediate motive was stated.
Ukraine’s Account
Russia’s Account and Diplomatic Position
Casualties and damage
Ukraine’s Account
Ukrainian officials reported deaths, injuries, fires, damage to residential and civilian facilities, and power outages in Kyiv and the surrounding region.
Russia’s Account and Diplomatic Position
The articles do not provide a Russian response disputing the reported civilian casualties or damage.
Targets of the attack
Ukraine’s Account
The reported impact included apartment buildings, warehouses, a school, and a children’s hospital, with residents requiring rescue.
Russia’s Account and Diplomatic Position
Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces targeted facilities producing drone components, a military depot, a logistics hub, and other targets.
Peace negotiations
Ukraine’s Account
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine had given U.S. negotiators proposals for a plan to end the war and has requested more interceptor missiles.
Russia’s Account and Diplomatic Position
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow had not received specific proposals for possible new meetings with U.S. negotiators, while saying Russia was ready to arrange a meeting at short notice.
- Latest Kyiv toll
- Authorities reported 12 people killed and more than 30 injured.
- Earlier Kyiv toll
- An earlier account from Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported at least three dead and 20 injured.
- Regional death
- A separate official reported one additional person killed in the region around Kyiv.
- Damage
- Apartment and non-residential facilities, warehouses, a school, and a children’s hospital were damaged.
- Residential fire
- The upper floors of a nine-story residential building in Solomianskyi district were destroyed by fire; seven deaths were reported there by the mayor.
- Power outage
- Approximately 90,000 homes lost power; DTEK said it restored electricity to more than half of them.
- Stated Russian targets
- Russia’s Defence Ministry said the attack targeted drone-component facilities, a military depot, a logistics hub, and other sites.
- Diplomatic context
- U.S. and European efforts have not produced a lasting ceasefire; Ukraine said it had submitted peace-plan proposals to U.S. negotiators.