A deadly Russian drone strike overnight on 30 November set fire to a residential high-rise in Vyshhorod, Kyiv Oblast, killing one man and injuring 19 others, according to local authorities. The strike triggered a large fire that forced mass evacuations as emergency crews rushed to rescue residents trapped in the burning building.
Russia hits residential buildings in Kyiv Oblast with drone strike
The head of Kyiv Oblast, Mykola Kalashnyk, reported that four children were among the wounded and at least 11 of the injured were hospitalized. He said people suffered burns, shrapnel wounds, limb trauma, and smoke poisoning. A fire broke out in one of the town’s high-rises, forcing the evacuation of 146 residents and prompting a large-scale emergency response.
Rescue operations began shortly after the impact. By 1 a.m., authorities confirmed the fire was still active, and emergency services continued to battle the flames through the early hours. As of 2:42 a.m., over 90 firefighters and 18 pieces of equipment were deployed to the scene. Medics and psychologists were also on-site providing assistance.
Kalashnyk warned that the number of injured could increase. According to him, the fire in the struck building had been extinguished by morning. The damage from the drone strike was not limited to the high-rise. Two other apartment buildings, 14 detached houses, a local enterprise, and seven cars were also hit.
Police are treating the attack as a war crime. Kyiv Oblast law enforcement officials have opened criminal proceedings under charges related to Russia’s ongoing armed aggression against civilians.
