Russia Launches Massive Missile and Drone Attack on Kyiv and Cherkasy

Russian forces conducted a large-scale overnight aerial assault on May 24, 2026, targeting Kyiv and Cherkasy with a combination of missiles and drones, resulting in at least one death and dozens of injuries.

Key points

• Over 40 locations across Kyiv sustained damage, including residential buildings, a school, a business center, and a shopping mall.
• The State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported that 21 people were injured in Kyiv, with three in critical condition.
• In Cherkasy, a drone strike on a multi-story building caused fires across multiple floors and left 11 people, including two children, injured.
• Monitoring resources estimated the attack involved approximately 50 missiles and 700 drones, with reports of advanced weaponry like Zircon and Kinzhal missiles being used.

Why it matters

This significant escalation in aerial bombardment marks one of the most intense attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, causing widespread civilian casualties and structural damage.