Overnight on December 27, Russian forces launched massive strikes on Kyiv and the surrounding region.
According to Hvylya, the attacks were reported by Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko and the State Emergency Service. The shelling ignited fires in several high-rise buildings and private residences across multiple districts. At least 22 people were injured, including two children, with 12 individuals hospitalized.
In the Holosiivskyi district, a drone crash set fire to three cars at a service station; the blaze has since been extinguished. In the Obolonskyi district, a UAV strike ignited a three-story private home, damaging the roof and second floor as firefighters worked to contain the flames. Debris also fell within a dacha cooperative, sparking fires among parked vehicles in an open area.
In the Darnytskyi district, Mayor Klitschko reported that the 24th and technical floors of one building were destroyed, while a fire broke out on the upper floors of a neighboring structure. Several private houses also caught fire.
Klitschko noted an immediate threat to a local nursing home, prompting rescuers to evacuate ten residents. Additionally, emergency teams responded to reports of a car fire caused by falling debris on a roadway in the same district; while no fire was found, several parked cars were damaged and one person was injured.
In the Dniprovskyi district, a fire broke out in an 18-story residential building. Search and rescue operations are ongoing as someone may be trapped under the rubble. Debris also struck a 25-story building in the district, starting a fire on the first and second floors. Klitschko further confirmed a strike on a local depot.
Meanwhile, Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, stated that damage has been recorded across seven districts. Beyond residential buildings, the strikes damaged cars and a garage cooperative, shattering windows throughout the affected areas.
In the Solomianskyi district, Russia struck a National Aviation University (NAU) dormitory at the 9th-floor level.
NAU Rector Ksenia Semenova confirmed the hit to RBC-Ukraine, stating the impact occurred at the elevator shaft. No injuries were reported, though windows were blown out.
Further damage was reported in the Desnianskyi district, where a 9-story building was hit on the first floor, and in the Shevchenkivskyi district, where a fire broke out on the 10th floor of a residential building.
Klitschko later reported that over 2,600 residential buildings, 187 kindergartens, 138 schools, and 22 social welfare institutions are currently without centralized heating. "Energy and utility crews are working to restore power and heat," he emphasized. Water pressure has also dropped on the capital's left bank due to power grid damage.
In Bila Tserkva, Kyiv region, a Renault car dealership caught fire following a drone strike.
Media reports suggest the fire was caused by a downed "Geran-2" drone equipped with a thermobaric warhead.
Zelensky’s Reaction
President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that a massive Russian strike is still underway, with nearly 500 drones—including a significant number of Shaheds—and 40 missiles, including Kinzhals, launched since overnight.
"The primary target is Kyiv: its energy sector and civilian infrastructure. Unfortunately, there have been direct hits, and ordinary residential buildings have been damaged. Rescuers are currently searching for a person under the rubble of one of them," he said.
According to the President, several districts in the capital and the surrounding region are without power and heating. Firefighting efforts are ongoing. Repair crews have already begun work at some energy facilities, while at others, personnel remain in shelters; rescuers and technicians will start repairs as soon as the air raid sirens cease.
"There have been many questions lately. Where is the Russian response to the proposals to end the war offered by the United States and the world? Russian representatives engage in long talks, but in reality, Kinzhals and Shaheds speak for them. This is the true attitude of Putin and his inner circle. They do not want to end the war and try to use every opportunity to inflict more pain on Ukraine and increase pressure on the rest of the world. This means that the retaliatory pressure is currently insufficient," the Ukrainian leader emphasized.
Zelensky also noted that if Russia turns even the Christmas and New Year season into destroyed homes, burned apartments, and ruined power plants, then this "sick activity" must be met with truly decisive steps.
"America has this capability, Europe has this capability, and many of our partners have this capability. The main thing is to use it. It is equally vital to continue supporting Ukrainian defense and our protection of life. Air defense supplies must be sufficient and timely, especially now when we need them most. There should be no delays in protecting lives. I thank every leader and every country helping with this. Naturally, we will not scale back our diplomatic efforts. But diplomacy will not work without security. The world's powers must ensure that security, and we will be discussing this today and tomorrow with European leaders, the Prime Minister of Canada, and the President of the United States. I thank everyone who stands with Ukraine!" he added.
