At least nine people have been killed by Russia’s latest overnight attacks across Ukraine, and a hospital in Kyiv was damaged in the aftermath of a drone attack.
Staff at the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics in Kyiv evacuated patients after debris from a downed Russian drone sparked a fire early Friday.
Putin in 2025 Russian State Media Photo
Putin State Media Photo
Staff evacuated 30 people, and emergency crews evacuated seven more.
Three patients were injured.
Across Ukraine, nine people have died, and a further 61 have been injured in Russian attacks.
Figures compiled from regional authorities show that over the last 24 hours nine people were killed and 61 injured as a result of attacks by Russia. Further casualties were reported on Friday morning.
Kyiv Hospital Evacuated After Explosions
The second floor of the hospital was damaged in the explosion in the central Shevchenkivskyi district, which is close to several foreign embassies.
“A fire broke out in the building, and the second floor was partially destroyed,” Ukraine’s Health Ministry said.
It added: “Three patients at the medical facility were injured and received medical assistance at the scene.”
“We were asleep when there was this massive boom,” Oleksandr, who witnessed the incident, told the Guardian. “We felt the shock wave.”
Air Defenses Battle Jet-Powered Drones
Ukraine’s Air Force said that Russia launched 117 drones overnight. Of these drones, 63 were jet-powered. By 7.30 a.m., 80 drones, including 39 jet-powered drones, had been shot down or neutralized. Drones struck 24 locations, and 10 more were damaged by falling debris.
The figures come just one day after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned European leaders that Moscow is increasing its use of faster aircraft.
Lancet Drone from Russia. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Specifically, he warned that Russia was already “planning to increase both the production of jet-powered ‘shaheds’ and the number of attacks with them.”
Zelenskyy noted that speed restrictions had been reimposed on SpaceX’s Starshield satellite communications system in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory, preventing Ukrainian interceptor drones from operating above 100 mph.
“This directly affects our ability to intercept Russian jet-powered ‘shahed’ drones,” he complained on Thursday.
SpaceX did not comment, and the Pentagon and White House have not responded yet, Reuters said.
Four Killed in Donetsk
Four people were killed and seven injured in Donetsk Oblast, according to the Governor Vadym Filashkin. In Sumy Oblast, two men aged 57 and 47 were killed. Kharkiv officials reported 11 injuries, including four children.
In Kherson, three people were injured, and one woman was seriously injured in Chernihiv.
An earlier strike in Odesa hit a furniture production facility and injured four people. However, a second strike hit residential areas.
“Unfortunately, it has become known that one person was killed in the enemy attack in another district of the city,” city military administrator Serhii Lysak originally said.
However, regional governor Oleh Kiper later said two people had been killed and seven injured.
One 17-year-old was killed in another early morning attack in Zaporizhzhia. Later, authorities confirmed that 30 people were injured, including six children, after an attack on an apartment block.
In Rivne, six people were injured, including two children, after an attack on an apartment block.
“All those injured are receiving the necessary medical assistance,” the State Emergency Service said.
“Preparations for restoration work are underway,” regional administrator Oleksandr Koval said, adding that returning residents home was the “primary task.”
Russia Pummels Power Grid
The attacks targeted vital infrastructure, with Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi saying that high-voltage substations were the main target.
“Damage and destruction have been reported in nine regions.”
Deputy Energy Minister Artem Nekrasov said power cuts were reported in 12 regions, and noted that “new attacks and constant air raid alerts are complicating and delaying repairs.”
In Vinnytsia, 16 private homes, five apartment blocks and a kindergarten were damaged.
“Three people have been hospitalized in moderate condition,” Mayor Serhii Morhunov said.
Zelenskyy: Recent Talks Were ‘Serious’
The attacks follow talks in Abu Dhabi and meetings with US envoys in Moscow and Dublin.
Zelenskyy said that the talks were “serious,” and “not empty,” adding that progress was being made in the form of a prisoner exchange, but that Ukraine still needs more air defense missiles.
“Artificial restrictions do not serve peace – they serve the aggressor,” he told NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Thursday.
On Friday, firefighters put out the fire in Kyiv. Emergency crews have continued clearing debris across the country and repairing damage to homes and infrastructure.
About the Author: Georgia Gilholy
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
