Moscow's Aerial Assault: "Kyiv weeps in its heart"
The city of Kyiv, Ukraine, continues to face a dire situation as it endures relentless Russian attacks. On the night of July 30–31, 2025, a major aerial assault resulted in the loss of at least 31 lives, including five children, and left 159 residents injured[1][3].
The attacks have left a trail of destruction, with buildings and homes reduced to rubble[1]. The city's infrastructure has been severely impacted, with emergency services repeatedly targeted in "double tap" strikes, causing further casualties and hindering relief efforts[1]. The strain on public services and utilities is immense, while psychological trauma is widespread among residents due to the unpredictability and ferocity of these attacks[3].
The Russian military is reportedly using more drones than ever before in these attacks[2]. One such drone, of Iranian origin, was recently spotted flying towards the city center from the east. Known as a "moped" combat drone, it was reportedly destroyed by Kyiv's air defense[2].
The city's air defense is being breached more frequently, with dozens more drones and rockets attacking Kyiv, causing fear and terror among residents[2]. During these attacks, a delivery man bravely brought fresh baked goods to the kiosk in the metro entrance area, while Inna from the Darnyzja district watched volleys rise into the air from her apartment window[2]. Natalija, a kiosk saleswoman, huddled in blankets in her apartment hallway during air raids[2].
As the attacks continued, a dozen or so explosions shook the city in quick succession. People rushed to the "Golden Gate" metro station, equipped with essentials, to seek shelter[2]. The metro station, designed as a shelter against a nuclear attack, is now being used as a refuge during air raids[2]. The first air raid of the night ended after approximately 4.5 hours[2].
Despite the ongoing chaos, many people are leaving the metro station and returning home, hoping for a quiet remainder of the night[2]. However, air defense reportedly destroyed another drone, and several groups of cruise missiles are reportedly approaching the capital[2]. Distant machine gun fire and a rocket launch were also reported[2].
The broader context of the war shows Russia intensifying its offensive elsewhere, including eastern Ukraine, with continuous missile and drone strikes across multiple cities[1][2][4]. Despite ongoing Ukrainian counterattacks, Russian forces continue to conduct sustained operations near Kyiv’s region and other strategic areas[1][2][4].
The people of Kyiv are resilient, but the ongoing attacks have taken a heavy toll. The city's residents continue to live under constant fear and disruption, hoping for a peaceful future.
[1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61716631 [2] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-drone-flying-towards-kyiv-ukraine-says-ukrainian-official-2021-07-30/ [3] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/31/russia-ukraine-crisis-at-least-30-killed-in-kyiv-air-strikes [4] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/31/world/europe/ukraine-russia-kyiv-attacks.html
The ongoing Russian attacks on Kyiv have extended beyond military targets, affecting the city's general news, politics, and crime-and-justice sectors, as emergency services and public utilities are repeatedly targeted and public trauma is widespread. The city's air defense, while fighting off drones and missiles, can't adequately protect civilians from the psychological toll of the unpredictable and ferocious assaults.
