Russia launched a sustained barrage targeting Kyiv with more than 1,400 drones and dozens of ballistic missiles over a span of several days, resulting in significant civilian casualties and damage to residential areas. The wave of attacks hit various parts of the capital, including homes, a school, and a veterinary clinic. A collapsed nine-story apartment building caused multiple fatalities, marking one of the deadliest incidents during this series of strikes.

The drone and missile strikes came shortly after Russia threatened retaliatory attacks on Kyiv if Ukrainian forces targeted Moscow’s Victory Day parade. Despite a proposed ceasefire from Ukraine in early May, Moscow delayed its response and presented peace terms with underlying threats. Once the unofficial ceasefire ended, Russia dramatically ramped up its offensive, with peak attacks involving nearly 900 drones in a single day, followed by sustained missile launches.

Ukraine’s air defenses have responded effectively, shooting down the vast majority of incoming threats. Official reports indicate that Ukrainian forces intercepted more than 90 percent of all drones and a significant portion of missiles, approaching leadership’s stated targets for aerial defense efficiency.

While the capital endures these intensified attacks, Russia’s ground forces face a striking slowdown in their eastern Ukrainian advance. Data from a Washington-based think tank reveals a sharp drop in the pace of territorial gains, with the daily area captured shrinking to a fraction of the rates observed in earlier phases of the conflict. Comparatively, territory gained per day has fallen from nearly 15 square kilometers in late 2024 to just over 2 square kilometers in the current phase.

In contrast to Russian ground struggles, Ukrainian forces recorded modest territorial recoveries in April, marking their first net gains since a counteroffensive months earlier. This shift underscores a stalemate on the frontline even as Russia concentrates firepower on Kyiv through its increasing reliance on drone and missile strikes.