Russia launched a large-scale overnight missile and drone attack on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, just ahead of the upcoming NATO summit, leaving at least eight people dead and 34 others injured. The assault caused significant damage to residential buildings and other infrastructure, as emergency crews rushed to rescue those trapped under the debris.

According to Ukrainian officials, Russia fired multiple ballistic missiles along with waves of drones, targeting several areas across the capital. The attack came only hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia was preparing another major offensive against the city.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said rescue operations began immediately after the strikes, with emergency teams evacuating residents from damaged buildings. Officials confirmed that most of the fatalities occurred in Kyiv, while another person was killed in the nearby Bucha district.

The head of Kyiv's military administration, Timur Tkachenko, said the strikes hit apartment complexes and other residential areas. A section of a residential building in the Podilskyi district was partially destroyed, while several high-rise buildings in the Darnytsia district were damaged. Authorities fear that more people may still be trapped beneath the rubble.

The attack also triggered a major fire at an industrial facility near the city's waterfront, sending thick black smoke into the sky. Air defense systems remained active throughout the night as explosions echoed across Kyiv, forcing residents to seek shelter inside metro stations.

The latest assault comes days after another deadly Russian airstrike on Kyiv that reportedly killed dozens of people. In response, President Zelensky once again urged Ukraine's Western allies to strengthen the country's air defense capabilities, particularly by supplying additional Patriot missile systems, arguing that stronger defenses are essential to counter Russia's continued attacks.

The strikes took place on the eve of the NATO summit, where the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war is expected to remain a key topic of discussion among allied leaders.