Russia launches massive strikes on Kyiv in worst attack of 2026; air defenses limit damage

Russian forces conducted large-scale strikes on Kyiv over the weekend, with residents describing it as the worst night of the year so far, according to France 24 correspondent Gulliver Cragg. The attacks targeted the city centre and resulted in a high number of casualties, with rescue teams continuing to stabilize buildings in the aftermath. Per Cragg's reporting, Ukrainian air defence systems repelled a significant portion of the incoming strikes. The incident underscores the ongoing intensity of Russia's campaign against Ukraine's capital more than four years into the invasion.