Kyiv, 28 August 2025 – A massive overnight aerial attack on Kyiv, carried out by the Russian Federation between 27 and 28 August, marked the first major air assault on Ukraine’s capital in nearly a month, said the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU). This attack left at least 18 civilians dead, including 4 children, and 38 injured, according to preliminary reports.
“It was another horrifying night in Kyiv. Civilians sheltering in their own buildings were among those killed and injured,” said Danielle Bell, Head of HRMMU. “The devastating loss of life and scale of destruction underscore the relentless toll this conflict continues to take on civilians in Ukraine,” she added.
Most of the casualties occurred in the Darnytskyi district, where a section of a five-story residential building collapsed after being struck. At the time of writing, some people are still believed to be trapped under the rubble while rescue operations and emergency services are ongoing. Authorities have confirmed damage across eight districts of Kyiv, including the railway hub, residential buildings, and commercial facilities.
HRMMU’s team visited the site of the attack in the Darnytskyi district and interviewed survivors and witnesses to document the human rights impact of the incident. “I was in the basement with many other neighbours. When the explosion occurred, the room filled with dust and smoke, and water began seeping into the basement. I managed to leave the shelter but was injured by a subsequent explosion. I couldn’t hear anything; my legs were covered in wounds, and blood started covering my eye from a cut on my face,” said a man from the damaged five-story building.
Authorities reported that 598 Shahed loitering munitions and 31 high-precision missiles were deployed in the attack throughout the country. Damage from the assault was reported at over 33 locations across the capital.
Other parts of the country also came under attack. Explosions or falling debris were reported in several regions, including Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi, Vinnytsia, and Cherkasy. In Kyiv region, one civilian man was reportedly injured. In Vinnytsia region, damage was reported to railway infrastructure, along with critical energy infrastructure.
The last attack of a similar scale by the Russian Armed Forces on Kyiv occurred on 31 July, when 31 civilians were killed and 171 injured. July’s casualty numbers were the highest verified since May 2022, with 286 civilians killed and 1,388 injured.
Overall, since the Russian Federation launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, HRMMU has documented the deaths of at least 13,883 civilians, including 726 children, and 35,548 injured, including 2,234 children.
