Massive Overnight Aerial Attack on Kyiv: 23 Killed Including Four Children, Buildings Damaged, EU and UK Protest

In the early hours of Thursday, Kyiv experienced Russia’s second largest aerial assault since its invasion of Ukraine, resulting in at least 23 fatalities, including four children. According to local officials, the majority of deaths occurred in a five-storey building strike in Darnytskyi district, with 22 casualties reported.

The European Union (EU) and British Council buildings were among those damaged during the attacks. The EU has summoned Russia’s top diplomat in Brussels in response to these incidents, while the UK has recalled its ambassador to Moscow.

Ukraine’s air force reported that Russian forces launched 629 air attack weapons throughout the night, comprising 598 drones and 31 missiles. Yuriy Ihnat, head of communications for the air force, described the attacks as “one of the largest combined attacks” on the country.

Russia’s defense ministry claimed that it targeted “military-industrial complex enterprises and military air bases in Ukraine” using “high-precision weapons.” However, Moscow also expressed interest in peace talks, emphasizing that its ongoing operations do not signal an end to diplomatic efforts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky labeled the assault as a “deliberate killing of civilians,” urging global communities to call for a ceasefire and meaningful diplomacy. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was outraged by the incident, stating that it underscores the Kremlin’s disregard for civilian lives and its commitment to terrorizing Ukraine.

Multiple locations across Ukraine reported incidents requiring hundreds of responders, including a building used by the EU mission in Ukraine. Both Zelensky and US President Donald Trump have been in contact with von der Leyen following the strikes, with Trump expressing concern but acknowledging that a resolution requires mutual agreement from both Putin and Zelensky.

The attack on Kyiv comes two weeks after a face-to-face meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at ending the war. However, ongoing negotiations have stalled, with no immediate plans for a bilateral meeting between Zelensky and Putin. On Wednesday, representatives from Ukraine met with Saudi Arabia’s defense minister to discuss an end to hostilities, while a Ukrainian delegation is scheduled to meet US officials in New York on Friday.

Meanwhile, Putin will travel to China next week for a military parade, accompanied by other global leaders, including North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russia-friendly European politicians such as Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia and Slovakia’s Robert Fico. Despite these developments, Russia continues to escalate its assaults across Ukraine, capturing two villages in the southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region earlier this week.