Russia has launched its second-largest air assault on Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, killing at least 18 people, including four children, and damaging key diplomatic buildings in Kyiv.
Ukrainian authorities reported that 629 aerial weapons – 598 drones and 31 missiles – were fired overnight, causing widespread destruction. A building housing the European Union mission and another belonging to the British Council were among the structures damaged, prompting the EU and UK to summon top Russian diplomats.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attack as a “horrific and deliberate killing of civilians,” calling for stronger global condemnation. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the strikes showed Moscow’s willingness to “terrorize Ukraine” and reaffirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin must return to peace negotiations.
Rescue operations continued across multiple sites in Kyiv, with more than 500 emergency workers and 1,000 police officers deployed. Residential buildings, a kindergarten, transport infrastructure, and dozens of cars were damaged in what officials called a “combined attack from multiple directions.”
Friday has been declared a day of mourning in Kyiv, with flags at half-mast and entertainment events canceled.
