Russia strikes Ukraine with missiles and drones, killing at least 21 people in Kyiv, including four children, in one of the deadliest attacks in months. Ukrainian officials said the overnight assault damaged residential areas, cultural institutions, and foreign missions, leaving much of the capital in shock.
Rescue workers rushed through destroyed neighborhoods as smoke rose across the city. “This is another grim reminder of what is at stake,” said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, describing the attack as a deliberate attempt to terrorize civilians.
Kyiv Counts Its Dead After Russia Strikes Ukraine
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said it was among the largest bombardments in recent months, with 63 people wounded and buildings destroyed across all districts of the city. Ukraine’s military reported that Russia targeted 13 different locations, while strikes on energy facilities caused widespread power outages.
The health ministry confirmed that the dead included children, while dozens of families fled their homes through the night. Witnesses described drones buzzing overhead before missiles slammed into residential blocks.
Russia Strikes Ukraine Despite Peace Efforts
The assault came less than two weeks after President Vladimir Putin met Donald Trump in Alaska, a summit Washington hoped would advance peace talks. Instead, the latest violence suggests the Kremlin has no intention of slowing its war campaign.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called the strike “Moscow’s answer to diplomacy,” urging allies to impose fresh sanctions on Russia. “It chooses to continue killing instead of ending the war,” he wrote on X.
International Reactions to Russia Strikes Ukraine
The United States confirmed that President Trump “was not happy” about the attack but “not surprised,” according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. EU and British leaders took a firmer line, summoning Russian envoys in protest and promising tougher sanctions.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the strike that damaged the British Council office in Kyiv, accusing Putin of “killing children and civilians and sabotaging hopes of peace.”
Bottom Line
As rescue crews continued digging through rubble, officials warned the death toll could rise. With families mourning their dead and leaders trading statements, the reality on the ground remains grim: Russia strikes Ukraine once again, leaving Kyiv devastated and peace still far out of reach.
