Kyiv, Ukraine (BN24) — A mass Russian drone and missile attack on Ukraine’s capital early Thursday killed at least 12 people and wounded 48 others, including children, in one of the most destructive air assaults in months. The rare strike on central Kyiv left apartment blocks in ruins, shattered windows across the city, and ignited fires as emergency crews pulled bodies from the rubble.
Local officials said it was the first large-scale Russian combined assault on Kyiv in weeks. Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Moscow launched 598 strike drones and decoys along with 31 missiles of various types across the country, marking one of the biggest air offensives since the war began in 2022.
Among the dead were three children — ages 2, 14 and 17 — according to Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s city administration. Authorities warned the death toll could rise as rescuers continued searching collapsed buildings in multiple districts.
“Ballistics Instead of Negotiations”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strikes as a rejection of peace talks, accusing Russia of escalating violence instead of pursuing diplomacy.
“Russia chooses ballistics instead of the negotiating table,” Zelenskyy wrote on X after the assault. “We expect a response from everyone in the world who has called for peace but now more often stays silent rather than taking principled positions.”
The assault came as U.S.-led efforts to broker a ceasefire and negotiate a settlement to the three-year war have stalled.
Central Kyiv Hit in Rare Attack
The bombardment struck at least 20 locations across seven Kyiv districts, damaging nearly 100 buildings, including a shopping mall in the city center. Tkachenko said thousands of windows were shattered, and residents were left sweeping up broken glass in apartment blocks and offices.
The European Union’s diplomatic mission in Kyiv was damaged in the blasts. Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement, condemned the attack as “a clear sign that Russia rejects peace & chooses terror,” posting images of smashed windows and doors at the EU offices.
A 21-year-old resident, Sophia Akylina, said the attack struck closer than ever before. “It’s never happened before that they attacked so close,” she said. “Negotiations haven’t yielded anything yet, unfortunately people are suffering.”
Scenes of Devastation
Smoke rose from a five-story residential building in the Darnytskyi district after a direct hit collapsed part of the structure. Firefighters battled flames and searched for survivors while neighbors stood by waiting for news of missing relatives. Bodies in black bags were placed beside the wreckage.
Witnesses described harrowing rescues. Oleksandr Khilko, whose sister lived in the destroyed building, said he pulled three survivors, including a boy, from under debris. “It’s inhuman, striking civilians,” he said, his clothes covered in dust. “With every cell of my body I want this war to end as soon as possible.”
Ukraine’s national railway operator reported damage to infrastructure in both Vinnytsia and Kyiv regions, causing significant delays and forcing trains onto alternate routes.
Russia Reports Drone Attacks on Its Oil Refineries
In response to Kyiv’s drone campaign, Russia’s Defense Ministry said it had downed 102 Ukrainian drones overnight, mostly in the southwest. Local officials reported a fire at the Afipsky oil refinery in Krasnodar and another blaze at the Novokuibyshevsk refinery in Samara.
Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russia’s energy sector, hitting refineries and oil depots to undermine Moscow’s war economy. The strikes have triggered fuel shortages and price spikes in several Russian regions.
Diplomacy Stalled After Trump-Putin Talks
The massive attack followed a recent meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where the two leaders discussed paths to end the war. While initial reports suggested progress, momentum has since slowed, with Western leaders accusing Moscow of deliberately stalling.
This week, Ukraine’s military admitted Russian troops had advanced into an eighth region of the country, underscoring the continued expansion of the front. Zelenskyy has pressed Washington for harsher sanctions to cripple Russia’s economy if Putin does not engage seriously in peace efforts.
“All deadlines have already been broken, dozens of opportunities for diplomacy ruined,” Zelenskyy said Thursday.
Trump, frustrated by Putin’s reluctance, said Friday he expects to decide on next steps within two weeks if direct peace talks with Zelenskyy are not scheduled.
AP
