Ballistic strikes, deaths and blackouts: Kyiv reels from a massive Russian attack
Photo: Russia launched a massive overnight attack on Kyiv and the region (facebook.com/DSNS.GOV.UA)
In the early hours of August 20, Russia launched a combined attack on Kyiv and the Kyiv region using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones. At least 12 people were killed and dozens injured in Kyiv and Brovary. Residential buildings, warehouses and critical infrastructure facilities were damaged.
RBC-Ukraine explains what is known about the aftermath of the massive overnight attack.
Key details:
- Massive attack: Russia launched a combined strike on Kyiv and the region using ballistic missiles, Kalibr cruise missiles and drones.
- Dead and injured: People were killed and dozens injured in Kyiv and Brovary. The upper floors of a nine-story residential building in Kyiv's Solomianskyi district were destroyed.
- Damage and blackouts: Fires broke out at industrial and warehouse facilities. Parts of Kyiv's Sviatoshynskyi and Solomianskyi districts, as well as parts of Brovary, were left without power following emergency outages.
- Changes to railway services: Damage to railway infrastructure forced changes to routes and the cancellation of several suburban and regional trains serving Kyiv, the Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy regions.
Weapons used in the attack. Timeline of the assault
An air raid alert was declared in Kyiv shortly before midnight, followed almost immediately by explosions across the city. Russia launched waves of ballistic missiles toward Kyiv and the Kyiv region. Later, Kalibr missiles approached Kyiv from the south, followed by several groups of cruise missiles after 3 a.m.
According to monitoring channels, the missiles maneuvered and flew through Sumy, Kharkiv, Poltava, Cherkasy and Chernihiv regions toward the capital.
#Київ: 4 особи загинули та 23 постраждали через масовану атаку на столицю! Попередньо, влучання, руйнування та пожежі зафіксовані у Святошинському, Дарницькому та Солом’янському районах.
— DSNS.GOV.UA (@SESU_UA) August 20, 2026
Детальніше: https://t.co/V0SgekdbfX pic.twitter.com/vgencostR2
Drones were also detected in Ukrainian airspace. In the morning, Ukrainian air defenses engaged drones over Kyiv again.
The air raid alert in the capital lasted a total of 8 hours and 45 minutes.
Kyiv
Aftermath: 12 people were killed and 34 injured. The following day was declared a Day of Mourning in the capital.
Power supply: Parts of the Sviatoshynskyi and Solomianskyi districts were left without electricity.
Sviatoshynskyi district: A strike was recorded at an industrial facility. Fires broke out in warehouses covering approximately 500 and 1,000 square meters. One person was found dead.
Solomianskyi district: The eighth and ninth floors of a nine-story residential building were destroyed, and a fire broke out. Windows were blown out in other buildings, a medical facility was damaged, and cars, garages, and a store burned. People were trapped inside residential buildings and a school shelter.
Darnytskyi district: A non-residential facility was hit, sparking fires in warehouses and vehicles across an area of approximately 1,000 square meters. Rescuers evacuated one person and handed them over to medics.
According to DTEK, 40,000 households in Kyiv remain without electricity following the massive attack. At the same time, power has been restored to 50,000 households.
Brovary
Aftermath: An industrial infrastructure facility was hit. One person was killed, and two were injured. A man born in 1966 was hospitalized in serious condition, while another injured person received medical treatment at the scene and refused hospitalization.
Power supply: The attack damaged power lines, leaving some residents without electricity since overnight. Local authorities said residents can charge their devices at Points of Invincibility located in Brovary, Knyazhychi and Trebukhiv.
Boryspil
Social media users reported a major fire in Boryspil at the site of a strike.
According to local authorities, the attack damaged 14 private houses, four warehouse buildings, a gas station, a high-rise apartment building and eight vehicles in the Boryspil district. Six people were injured.
Overall, one person was killed and seven injured in the Kyiv region, including the Boryspil and Brovary districts.
Fires were reported at two fuel infrastructure facilities, warehouse buildings, private homes, and a vehicle.
Four private homes were destroyed and another four damaged. Three vehicles were destroyed, and one more was damaged.
Other regions
In Kharkiv, a Molniya-type drone struck a gas station.
In the Chernihiv region, two Banderol-type missiles struck the city of Pryluky. Explosions were also reported in the Cherkasy region, where some targets were shot down.
The southern Odesa region came under a massive attack. Civilian infrastructure was targeted. Several communities experienced power disruptions, with 13,000 customers still without electricity as of the morning.
At another location, two trailers carrying food supplies caught fire.
Fragments of missiles and drones have been found across the Poltava region following the overnight attack.
Debris from missiles and UAVs has been discovered in several parts of the region. Some fragments still contain unexploded warheads.
Explosive ordnance technicians are working to neutralize them.
Zelenskyy's reaction
The President of Ukraine stressed that Russia had been preparing for the massive strike for a long time. The enemy combined different types of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones in an attempt to inflict as much damage as possible on civilian infrastructure.
According to the head of state, Russia attacked a border crossing with Moldova in the Odesa region using drones, while targeting gas infrastructure in the Chernihiv region.
"Unfortunately, while Moscow is investing in ballistic weapons and escalation, the world does not always respond adequately to such strikes. And as long as Ukraine lacks sufficient anti-ballistic defenses, Russia will not seriously consider peace," Zelenskyy stressed.
Ukrainian Railways changes suburban train services
Damage to infrastructure caused by the overnight attack has led to changes in suburban and regional train services toward Kyiv, the Kyiv region, Chernihiv region and Sumy region.
Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways) warned that additional delays and changes on other routes may occur throughout the day for security reasons. Passengers are urged not to wait for trains on platforms during air raid alerts and to remain in shelters.
