Rescuers carry an injured victim from a building damaged by Russian strikes, Kyiv, Ukraine, July 2, 2026
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UPDATE 1456 GMT:
Ukraine struck the Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez oil refinery, Russia’s 4th-largest and its 2nd-largest producer of gasoline, in the city of Kstovo in the Nizhny Novgorod region overnight.
The refinery processes around 17 million metric tons of crude oil each year. It also produces diesel fuel, jet fuel, lubricants, and other petroleum products, including supplies used by the Russian military.
The Ukraine General Staff said the strike set afire the facility and damaged the AVT-6 primary crude oil processing unit.
UPDATE 1445 GMT:
The toll has risen to 21 civilians murdered by Russia’s overnight attacks on Kyiv.
Visiting the site of an apartment block damaged by the strikes, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine will “definitely” retaliate.
A record 52,500 people, including nearly 4,500 children, sheltered in underground stations.
The attacks destroyed around 800,000 books in BookChef’s inventory. The central warehouse of their logistics partner was completely destroyed.
UPDATE 1143 GMT:
The toll from Russia’s overnight attacks has risen to at least 18 civilians murdered and 86 injured.
A record 28 ballistic missiles were fired on Kyiv.
DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, said the attack damaged its energy infrastructure in the capital. Some residents are without electricity. Emergency crews were dispatched to the affected sites as soon as the security situation allowed.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky posted, “An ambulance station, a scientific institute, a hotel, and businesses have also been destroyed….Air defense supplies for Ukraine are an absolute and critical priority.”
It is especially important that we move forward with implementing our agreements on the production of anti-ballistic capabilities. We also very much count on a decision by the United States regarding licenses for Patriots and other forms of cooperation. These are the kinds of steps that can stop this war and prevent attacks like this.
UPDATE 0659 GMT:
Germany’s federal prosecutor has filed charges against Ukrainian veteran Serhii Kuznietsov, suspected of sabotaging the Nord Stream gas pipelines from Russia to Germany in September 2022.
Kuznietsov was arrested in Italy in August 2025 and extradited to Germany in November. The first suspect to be indicted, he is charged with attacks on civilian energy infrastructure, a war crime under international law.
Saboteurs destroyed three of the four Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in an underwater attack near Denmark’s Bornholm Island in the Baltic Sea.
German investigators allege Kuznietsov led the sabotage group. They claim he commanded the yacht Andromeda, from which a team of divers carried out the attack.
German officials say Kuznietsov incriminated himself in calls with friends and acquaintances. Investigators claim they found evidence linking him to the sabotage operation on his mobile phone.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said it was too soon to comment, “We have not officially received all the details, at least I have not seen them. The relevant authorities of our countries will connect, and when we receive more details, we will probably be able to react. It is too early to say yet.”
ORIGINAL ENTRY: At least 13 civilians have been murdered and more than 30 injured, including children, by Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv overnight.
The Russian attacks began Wednesday and continued into the early morning. The invaders launched 74 missiles and 496 long-range drones, most of them targeting Kyiv.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing at several sites, including a partially collapsed multi-story residential building. A hotel and other multi-story buildings were damaged. Destruction was recorded at more than 30 locations.
Witnesses and journalists heard explosions around 9:40 p.m. as air defense engaged drones on the outskirts of the city. Kyiv Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko said the assualt was “from all directions”. Residents headed to underground metro stations, sheltering throughout the night.
The next wave was early Thursday. Ballistic missiles, including hypersonic Zircons, were in the assault. monitoring channels reported that Russia deployed up to 10 strategic bombers.
13 people killed by Russia in #Kyiv in last night's massive attack.
Over 30 people injured.
The search and rescue operations continue at the sites where Russia hit.
— Anton Gerashchenko (@antongerashchenko.bsky.social) July 2, 2026 at 7:18 AM
