Bombardments by Russia result in the death of at least 21 individuals in Kyiv, marking the second most significant assault since the comprehensive invasion.
In a significant escalation of its aggression against Ukraine, Russia launched a sweeping attack on Thursday, targeting the European Union and the city of Kyiv with missiles and drone strikes.
The Kremlin's missiles struck near the EU office in Kyiv, causing damage to buildings across all city districts, according to officials. The European Union and the United Kingdom have summoned Russian envoys to protest these attacks, as part of a broader diplomatic response involving EU countries such as France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Finland, and the UK.
The attack in Kyiv was described as one of the biggest in recent months by Mayor Vitali Klitschko. At least 21 people were killed in the capital, and at least 63 were wounded in the hours-long assault. Across the country, Russian attacks struck 13 locations.
The EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, announced a 19-package of sanctions against Russia in response to these attacks. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky called for new sanctions on Russia, stating that the strikes were Moscow's answer to diplomatic efforts to end its war.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was recently hosted by President Donald Trump at a summit in Alaska, a meeting intended to advance peace efforts. However, Russia stepped up air strikes on Ukrainian towns and cities far behind the front lines, targeting residential areas, civilian trains, and EU & British mission council offices.
Ukraine's military reported downing 563 of nearly 600 drones and 26 of 31 missiles launched by Russia. The attacks also damaged a Turkish enterprise and the Azerbaijan embassy.
In a statement, the US special envoy, Keith Kellogg, stated that the targets were residential areas, civilian trains, EU & British mission council offices, and innocent civilians. Despite this, the Kremlin stated it was still interested in pursuing peace talks.
Ukraine's drone force reported striking the Afipsky and Kuybyshevskyi oil refineries. The attack on the EU office and the city of Kyiv marks a concerning escalation in Russia's conflict with Ukraine, and the international community continues to call for an end to the hostilities and a return to diplomacy.
