Inside Russia's devastating attack on Kyiv: Collapsed buildings, fires, and survivors under rubble
Photo: Kyiv was the main target of Russia's July 2 attack (Getty Images)
Russian forces launched a massive combined attack on Kyiv overnight on July 2. Dozens of strikes were recorded across the capital, residential buildings were destroyed, and rescuers are still searching for people trapped under the rubble.
RBC-Ukraine has compiled all the key details of the attack, including the latest information on casualties and damage.
Key points:
- Russia launched 570 aerial weapons: 74 missiles and 496 drones. Ukraine's air defenses destroyed or suppressed 524 targets.
- 13 people were killed in Kyiv, while more than 90 were injured. Search-and-rescue operations continue at a collapsed apartment building in the city's Darnytskyi district.
- More than 20 residential buildings were damaged, with destruction reported at over 30 locations across the capital. An emergency medical station, a research institute, a hotel, and businesses were also damaged. Power outages have been reported.
- July 3 has been declared a Day of Mourning in Kyiv for the victims of the Russian attack.
- Five districts of the Kyiv region also came under attack, leaving people injured and causing widespread damage.
Jet-powered drones, missiles, and Zircon missiles that got through
The assault began the previous evening. Russia initially launched attack drones, including jet-powered drones, followed overnight and into the early morning by cruise and ballistic missiles. The bombardment of Kyiv lasted for more than 11 hours.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 570 aerial weapons against Ukraine, including 74 missiles of various types and 496 drones.
Photo: An apartment building in Kyiv's Darnytskyi district collapsed from the first through the sixth floor (t.me/dsns_telegram)
Ukraine's air defenses destroyed or electronically suppressed 524 aerial targets—including 48 missiles and 476 drones. Nearly all Kh-101 and Kalibr cruise missiles were intercepted.
However, 25 ballistic missile impacts were recorded. Ukraine intercepted only 4 of the 24 Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles, while none of the four Zircon missiles were shot down. In addition, 12 attack drones struck targets at 33 locations, while debris from intercepted drones fell at 18 locations.
Dead and injured
Authorities have confirmed that 13 people were killed in Kyiv. More than 90 others were injured, most of whom were hospitalized. The injured include two children and six emergency medical workers.
Photo: Rescue teams continue searching for people trapped beneath the rubble, with several people still reported missing (t.me/dsns_telegram)
Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko described the attack as the largest assault on the capital since the start of the full-scale war.
Darnytskyi district suffered the worst destruction
Damage and destruction have been reported at more than 30 locations across Kyiv, with over 20 residential buildings affected. Emergency crews remain at work at 15 sites.
Photo: Helicopters were deployed to help extinguish massive fires (t.me/dsns_telegram)
In the Darnytskyi district, an entrance section of a nine-story apartment building collapsed from the first through the sixth floor. A five-story residential building, the upper floors of a 16-story building, and several private homes were also partially destroyed. A massive crater formed in a courtyard between apartment buildings.
Величезна вирва утворилася між будинками в Києві на Дарниці внаслідок російського удару#ЕксклюзивРБКУкраїна #ExclusiveRBKUkraine #Київ #Kyiv #RussiaIsATerroristState #Дарниця #Darnitsa pic.twitter.com/N1ThvwMa1E
— РБК-Україна (@rbc_ukraine) July 2, 2026
According to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, rescuers saved 17 people at the site, including seven who were pulled from beneath the rubble. Search-and-rescue efforts remain underway, with officials warning that more people may still be trapped.
Apartments in buildings located in the Pecherskyi and Shevchenkivskyi districts were also destroyed.
The response to the aftermath of Russia’s attack is still ongoing in Kyiv: first responders are clearing the rubble, searching for people, and providing assistance. Damage has been reported at more than 20 sites across the city, most of them ordinary residential buildings. There… pic.twitter.com/rtfrS1gFVU
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 2, 2026
Residential buildings sustained damage in the Holosiivskyi, Darnytskyi, Desnianskyi, Obolonskyi, Pecherskyi, and Shevchenkivskyi districts.
The attack also damaged an emergency medical station, a gas station, the Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, a hotel, and private homes.
Kyiv declares Day of Mourning
July 3 has been declared a Day of Mourning in Kyiv for the victims of the large-scale Russian strike.
National flags will be flown at half-staff on municipal buildings, and authorities have recommended that both public and private institutions do the same. All entertainment events in the city have been canceled for the day.
Damage in other regions
Five districts of the Kyiv region also came under attack: Bucha, Brovary, Obukhiv, Fastiv, and Vyshhorod. Seven people were injured, and damage was reported throughout the region.
Electronics retailer MOYO separately announced that its warehouse was completely destroyed in the strike.
Photo: Russia completely destroyed MOYO's warehouse, leaving the building burned beyond recovery (threads.com)
In the Kharkiv region, five people, including one child, were injured.
Power outages and internet disruptions
Parts of Kyiv remain without electricity following the attack. However, the most serious power outages have been reported in the Sumy region, where the largest number of customers lost power. New outages were also reported in the Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Meanwhile, mobile operator Vodafone Ukraine warned customers about possible service disruptions following the overnight attack.
According to the company, damage caused by the Russian strike may temporarily affect:
- Home internet services;
- Account top-ups;
- Contact center operations.
Zelenskyy's response
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said strengthening Ukraine's air defenses remains the top priority following the massive Russian attack.
According to the president, critical priorities include additional air defense systems, partner contributions to the PURL program, and implementing agreements on the production of missile defense systems.
He also expressed hope that the United States would approve additional licenses for Patriot air defense systems and continue cooperation with Ukraine on strengthening its air defenses.
