Children as young as 2 killed in massive airstrike in Kyiv
28 August 2025In the early hours of 28 August 2025, Kyiv was shaken by one of the most devastating air assaults in recent months. According to official reports, at least 18 people were killed, including 4 children between the ages of 2 and 17, while 48 others were injured.
Many remain unaccounted for as search and rescue teams continue to pull survivors from the rubble.
“The 4 children were killed in a single night. Their lives cut short in moments of terror, their futures stolen before they had the chance to unfold. For the children who survive, the nightmare continues: endless nights in bomb shelters, the trauma of explosions, the loss of homes and schools, the absence of stability and security every child needs to grow and thrive,” said Sven Coppens, Ukraine Humanitarian Response Director at Plan International.
Children pay the highest price
Coppens added, “Last’s nights events in Kyiv are a tragic reminder that children are paying the highest price in this war. They are losing their lives, their homes, their sense of safety and of normalcy. The trauma they carry will not end when the bombing stops – it will shape their entire futures. The scars left on this generation will be invisible but profound, etched into their memories, their education, their very sense of safety.”
Nearly 100 buildings across 7 districts were damaged, including residential blocks, a shopping mall, schools, and cultural institutions. The offices of the European Union Delegation and the British Council were also hit. In the Darnytskyi district, a five-story residential building was destroyed, with families trapped under the rubble.
Ukraine’s air defences managed to intercept most of the barrage – an unprecedented 563 of nearly 600 drones and 26 of 31 missiles. Yet the sheer scale of the assault overwhelmed protective systems, making it one of the largest combined drone and missile attacks since the escalation of the war in 2022.
Plan International continues to work across Ukraine and neighbouring countries to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance, including psychosocial support, education, and child protection services. “The scale of destruction is staggering. As humanitarians, we must continue to do everything possible to support them and ensure their rights are not forgotten,” said Coppens.
The attack in Kyiv on 28 August 2025 is a stark reminder of the devastating cost of this war on civilians – and above all, on children.
Categories: Emergencies
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