IN PHOTOS: Fires and Ruins Across Kyiv After Russia’s Day-Long Attack

Korbinian Leo Kramer, Alisa Orlova | Sept. 29, 2026, 3:22 pm This is what Kyiv looks like after a day of Russian strikes on the Ukrainian capital on Monday, Sept. 28. The city endured waves of Russian strikes throughout the day, hitting multiple districts and leaving civilian buildings burning across the capital. (Photo by Korbinian Leo Kramer) Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said late Monday that two people had been killed and 26 others injured, including three children. Eight of the wounded were hospitalized, with one person remaining in serious condition. (Photo by Korbinian Leo Kramer) One of the victims was initially reported after a Russian drone struck a non-residential building belonging to Ukraine’s National Academy of Sciences in Kyiv’s historic center. Rescuers later recovered the body of a second victim from the building during emergency operations. (Photo by Korbinian Leo Kramer) Another strike hit a seven-story building housing a Dobrobut medical facility, where seven people were reported injured, including six employees. Russia also struck the Darnytsia pharmaceutical plant, while fires and damage were reported at other non-residential and commercial buildings around the capital. (Photo by Korbinian Leo Kramer) A non-residential building in Obolonskyi district was struck more than once, while vehicles caught fire after a drone fell into a residential courtyard in Solomianskyi district. A three-story business center was also hit in Sviatoshynskyi district, adding to the damage reported across Kyiv throughout the day. (Photo by Korbinian Leo Kramer) President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the strikes and said Russia would face consequences. “Every Russian terrorist attack results in casualties that could have been prevented had the pressure on Russia finally become total,” Zelensky said. (Photo by Korbinian Leo Kramer) Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 124 drones during Monday’s attacks, including 86 jet-powered UAVs. The Air Force reported that 86 aerial targets were destroyed or suppressed. (Photo by Korbinian Leo Kramer) Since late August, Russia has begun changing its drone tactics, replacing massive swarms with continuous launches against Ukrainian cities. Kyiv has responded by introducing a two-tier siren system that allows some businesses to continue operating amid constant drone alerts. (Photo by Korbinian Leo Kramer) While the number of drones launched in a single wave has fallen from its peak in May, the share of jet-powered drones has risen sharply in recent months. Their high speed – reaching up to 400–600 kilometers per hour – makes them more difficult for Ukrainian air defenses to intercept. (Photo by Korbinian Leo Kramer) Ukraine’s Air Force said the number of jet-powered drones launched has spiked eightfold since June, rising from 350 documented that month to 2,850 in August. (Photo by Korbinian Leo Kramer) But Ukraine is also adapting. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv is accelerating production of air defense systems capable of intercepting the jet-powered drones. (Photo by Korbinian Leo Kramer) Back