Zelenskyy states that the missile attack on Kiev was extremely severe and violent, targeting the city's capital.
On the evening of July 31, 2025, Kyiv was struck by a devastating missile and drone attack. The attack, which targeted a nine-story residential building in the Sviatoshynskyi district, resulted in the tragic loss of 31 lives, including five children, and injured around 159 people[1][2][3].
The aftermath of the attack was recorded in 27 locations across 4 districts of Kyiv. Among the victims was patrol police officer Liilia Stepanchuk[1]. Six-year-old Matvey Marchenko, a pupil of the capital's karate club, was also killed in the attack[1].
President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the site of the destroyed residential building on July 31 and spoke with those affected[1]. He expressed his deepest condolences to the families, loved ones, and everyone affected by the strike and promised to support all those affected[1].
Journalist of hromadske Natalia Mazina and her husband Dmitry Mazin were injured due to the drone strike on Kyiv's Sviatoshynskyi district, and their apartment was damaged[1].
The strike on Kyiv was one of the most brutal attacks on the capital, with the attack damaging over 100 buildings including homes, schools, kindergartens, medical facilities, and universities[2][3]. Local officials and Ukraine’s leadership condemned the strike as a deliberate war crime targeting civilians and infrastructure[2][3].
From the international community, condemnation has continued but detailed responses as of early August 2025 primarily center on expressing solidarity with Ukraine and calling for further pressure on Moscow to cease attacks on civilians. Western leaders, including the U.S. president, have urged Russia to stop targeting civilian areas, but Russian forces continue their aerial and drone strikes as part of the ongoing conflict[1][2][4].
Both Ukraine and Russia deny targeting civilians, each accusing the other of strikes damaging infrastructure critical to war efforts. The investigation into civilian casualties from the Kyiv strike is ongoing, with authorities emphasizing the need for international support to compel Russia toward peace negotiations[1][4].
Kyiv officially observed a day of mourning on August 1 following the high civilian toll. Recovery efforts particularly concentrated in the Sviatoshynskyi district, where rescue and search operations continued at least until August 1[1][2][3].
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-russia-responsible-missile-strike-kyiv-2021-07-31/ [2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58119236 [3] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/31/ukraine-says-russia-responsible-for-missile-strike-in-kyiv [4] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/31/world/europe/ukraine-russia-missile-strike-kyiv.html
The Society and the international community are expressing their condemnation over the deliberate war crime targeting civilians and infrastructure in the attack on Kyiv, with President Volodymyr Zelensky appealing for support for all affected individuals.
Political leaders, including those from the West, are urging Russia to cease attacks on civilian areas, while a joint investigation involving authorities and potential international support is ongoing to compel Russia towards peace negotiations.
