Death toll rises to 24 after Russian missile strike on Kyiv apartment building, Zelenskyy says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that the death toll from a Russian missile strike on a Kyiv apartment building has risen to 24, including three children, after emergency crews completed search operations at the site.

In posts published on X, Zelenskyy said rescue workers spent more than a day clearing debris from the damaged nine-storey residential building following Thursday’s attack. Ukrainian officials also reported 48 people injured in the broader assault on the capital, including two children.

According to the Ukrainian air force, the strike formed part of what officials described as Russia’s largest aerial barrage against Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion. The cruise missile struck a corner section of the apartment building during the overnight attack focused largely on Kyiv.

Kyiv authorities observed an official day of mourning Friday for those killed in the attack. Ukrainian officials have not publicly released additional details about the identities of the victims.

Zelenskyy also said Ukrainian experts examining missile debris determined the cruise missile used in the strike was manufactured earlier this year. He alleged Russia continues to obtain components and equipment needed for missile production despite international sanctions.

“Stopping Russia’s sanctions evasion schemes must be a genuine priority for all our partners,” Zelenskyy wrote Thursday night.