Russia-Ukraine clashes: Explosions rock Kyiv in rare daytime attack as drone war intensifies

Explosions echoed across the Ukrainian capital on Monday as air defences engaged a barrage of Russian projectiles in a rare daytime assault on Kyiv.

AFP reported air defence batteries firing repeatedly as flashes lit up the sky and plumes of smoke rose over the city during the rush-hour attack. Residents rushed for cover as Ukrainian forces attempted to intercept incoming missiles and drones.







Russia has intensified long-range drone and missile strikes in recent months, with energy infrastructure among the primary targets.

Kyiv’s mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said debris from downed drones fell in the centre of the capital but that there were no immediate reports of fires or casualties.



“Drone debris has fallen in the very centre of the capital city. There are no fires or casualties. The enemy attack on Kyiv continues,” Klitschko wrote on social media as further explosions were heard.

Ukraine’s air force also warned of a “high-speed target” approaching the capital from the north, near the border with Russia.

Meanwhile, Russian officials said Ukraine had carried out a major drone assault targeting Moscow over the weekend.

Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said air defence systems intercepted waves of Ukrainian drones heading toward the capital.

“Over the past two days, air defense forces have destroyed about 250 enemy UAVs directly on the approach to Moscow and on the second line towards Moscow,” Sobyanin said on Telegram.

US peace efforts stalled due to Middle East war

The escalation comes as US-led efforts to bring Kyiv and Moscow to the negotiating table appear to have stalled amid the widening conflict in the Middle East following the Iran–Israel war 2026.

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 — the Russian invasion of Ukraine — triggered Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II, displacing millions and killing hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians on both sides.

The war in Ukraine — and now the conflict involving Iran — has underscored the growing role of relatively inexpensive drones capable of striking targets far from the battlefield, including energy facilities and major cities, at a fraction of the cost of traditional fighter aircraft.

While Russia has pounded Ukraine with missiles, artillery and drones, Kyiv has increasingly responded with long-range drone strikes and sabotage operations deep inside Russian territory, targeting military commanders, oil refineries and energy infrastructure.