Russian forces launched another massive wave of attacks on key Ukrainian cities last night. The situation on the fronts and in the rear remains extremely difficult, with new casualties, destruction and large-scale fires reported as of 2:15 a.m. Bulgarian time on August 25, 2026.
Casualties and destruction in Kharkiv and Kyiv
At least one person was killed in a midnight missile strike in Kharkiv. The city's mayor, Igor Terekhov, confirmed that Russian missiles hit the industrial zone in the Osnovyanskyi district. Previously, a landing of a "Lightning" type unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was also recorded in the Kiev region. (Source: Russian version of the Ukrainian news portal Ukrainskaia Pravda – pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2026/08/25/8050152/)
At the same time, the capital Kiev experienced another heavy drone attack. The Kiev City Military Administration (KCMA) reported that debris from a downed drone hit a 16-story residential building in the Goloseevsky district. Walls were destroyed and windows were broken at the 14th floor level, and emergency rescue teams were immediately sent to the scene. (Source: RBC-Ukraine news agency – rbc.ua/ukr/news/pid-udarom-kiyiv-harkiv-dnipro-ta-zaporizhzhya-1787610458.html)
Red Cross warehouse destroyed in Kherson
In Kherson, drones attacked a humanitarian warehouse of the Ukrainian Red Cross. The large-scale fire that broke out completely destroyed vital supplies, estimated at nearly 28 million hryvnias. Materials for preparing the city for the autumn-winter period, medical supplies, blankets, hygiene kits, and water supply equipment were burned. Fortunately, no employees or volunteers of the organization were injured. (Source: news site Korrespondent.net – korrespondent.net/ukraine/4905815-v-khersone-yz-za-udara-rf-unychtozheny-humanytarnye-zapasy-pochty-na-28-mln)
Kryvyi Rih and Kyiv region: Search under the rubble and fire elements
In Kryvyi Rih, the round-the-clock search and rescue operation has been going on for four days after the brutal double attack on the "Sunny Gallery" shopping center, carried out on August 21. Three people, including a child, are still being searched for under the rubble, who are officially missing. So far, the tragedy has claimed 16 lives and injured 136. (Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine via the news site Slovo i Delo – ru.slovoidilo.ua/2026/08/24/novost/bezopasnost/okkupanty-unichtozhili-gumanitarnyj-sklad-krasnogo-kresta-vremya-ataki-xerson)
At the same time, in the Kiev region, in the area of the village of Bogdany, a huge forest fire is raging, spreading for several kilometers, which firefighters are trying to control in extremely difficult conditions. (Source: Interfax-Ukraine Agency – interfax.com.ua/news/general/1195756.html)
Intense fighting and diplomatic pressure
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported an extremely high intensity of fighting on the front line – a record 181 combat clashes have been registered since the beginning of the day. Against this background, during a UN meeting, US representatives issued another official appeal to Russia and Ukraine to end the bloodshed and immediately return to the negotiating table.