Russian Ballistic Missile Attack Kills 12 in Kyiv

By Reuters Aug. 20, 2026 Firefighters in Kyiv battle a blaze that broke out during a Russian attack on Aug. 20, 2026. Ukrainian State Emergency Service Russian ballistic missiles killed 12 people and injured more than 30 in Kyiv early on Thursday, authorities said, damaging buildings and severing power supply to some parts of the Ukrainian capital. A fire broke out and the upper floors of a nine-story residential block were destroyed in the city's Solomianskyi district, where seven people were killed, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said, calling for Friday to be observed as a day of mourning. Two other districts also suffered damage, Klitschko said on Telegram, with non-residential facilities, warehouses, a school and a children's hospital hit. Power company DTEK said it restored electricity to more than half of the roughly 90,000 homes left without power in the capital following the attack. The Russian Defense Ministry said it attacked Kyiv and the surrounding region with airstrikes and drones, hitting facilities producing drone components, a military depot and a logistics hub, as well as other targets. Russia has stepped up air attacks on Ukraine in recent months, trying to exploit its smaller neighbor's critical shortage of interceptors to down ballistic missiles. Ukraine has also increased its attacks on Russia, targeting oil facilities and logistics infrastructure to try to undermine Moscow's ability to wage war. Read more about: Ukraine war , Kyiv Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russian Strikes Kill 6, Cut Power Across Ukraine Ukrainian officials also reported large drone attacks in at least three other regions, including Zaporizhzhia. 1 Min read Kyiv Reels From One of Russia’s Largest Attacks in Months Residents voiced feelings of shock and stress as they grappled with the aftermath of the attack that killed at least 15 people. 3 Min read Russian Overnight Air Attacks Near Kyiv Kill At Least 3 Ukraine’s air force said it shot down 25 Russian drones over seven regions, including Kyiv and the western Lviv region. 1 Min read Russian Attack Kills Three in Kyiv Ukraine's Foreign Minister said the deaths are more "proof that Putin wants war, not peace." 3 Min read