At least 24 people have been confirmed dead after a massive Russian missile and drone assault struck a residential apartment building in Kyiv, marking one of the deadliest attacks on the Ukrainian capital since the war began.

According to Ukrainian officials, the large-scale barrage involved hundreds of drones and missiles launched across the country over a two-day period. One of the strikes directly hit a nine-story apartment building, causing a major section of the structure to collapse into piles of burning debris.

Emergency crews spent more than a day searching through the rubble for survivors and victims as rescue operations continued into Friday.

Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that at least 24 people were killed in the attack, including three children. Dozens of others were reportedly injured.

Images from the scene showed devastated residential blocks, rescue workers combing through shattered concrete, and grieving residents gathered outside the destroyed building.

Officials stated that nearly 1,600 Russian drones were launched toward Ukrainian territory over the span of two days, making it one of the largest aerial bombardments since the start of the conflict.

Authorities also reported damage across roughly 180 locations nationwide, with more than 50 residential buildings affected during the strikes.

The assault came shortly after a temporary ceasefire period linked to World War II anniversary commemorations. Despite expectations of reduced hostilities, fighting reportedly continued throughout the brief truce period.

The latest escalation has raised fresh concerns about the intensifying scale of the war between Russia and Ukraine, particularly as both sides continue expanding drone warfare operations.

Vladimir Putin has repeatedly defended Russia’s military operations, while Ukrainian officials accuse Moscow of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure.

Zelensky also claimed preliminary investigations showed one of the missiles used in the Kyiv strike had been manufactured recently, suggesting Russia continues obtaining critical components despite international sanctions.

The Ukrainian leader urged allied nations to strengthen enforcement measures against sanctions evasion networks that may be helping Russia sustain weapons production.

The attack underscores the growing humanitarian toll of the war, which has increasingly seen residential neighborhoods, apartment complexes, and civilian facilities caught in the crossfire of long-range missile and drone attacks.

As rescue efforts continue and damage assessments expand, international observers remain concerned that the conflict could enter an even more destructive phase in the months ahead.