BURSTRussia's military pounded Kyiv with a massive drone and missile attack overnight on Thursday, killing at least 18 people and damaging both the European Union's (EU) mission building and British Council offices in Ukraine’s capital.
Russia’s attacks destroyed a five-story building and severely damaged others in Kyiv as rescuers worked to clear the rubble in order to find residents. Among the casualties were at least three children, with the youngest girls being three years old, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, who added that Friday will be a day of mourning for the victims.
The strikes represent the largest attack on Kyiv since President Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska that took place earlier this month. Since then, the Kremlin seems to have been slow-walking a potential peace deal as it continues to attack Ukraine.
The Russian military launched 598 drones and 31 missiles in the overnight attack on Ukraine, including nine ballistic missiles, according to Ukraine’s Air Force. Ukrainian officials said they shot down 563 drones and 26 missiles, with 13 locations taking a direct hit.
“It is crucial now that the world responds firmly. Russia must stop this war it started and continues. For the spurning of ceasefire and for the constant Russian attempts to weasel out of negotiations, new strong sanctions are needed. Only this can work,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday morning on social platform X. “The Russians understand only strength and pressure. For every strike, Moscow must feel the consequences.”
The EU delegation building was damaged in the strikes, according to photos shared by officials. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the attack and called for Russia to come to the negotiating table.
“We must secure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine with firm and credible security guarantees that will turn the country into a steel porcupine,” von der Leyen said Thursday on X. “Europe will fully play its part.”
The EU Commission president said she spoke with Zelensky and Trump following Russia’s attacks. The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Thursday that the British Council building in Ukraine’s capital was damaged, accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of killing civilians and children and “sabotaging hopes of peace.”
Russia has previously said that it only attacks military targets. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov weighed in on the strikes on Thursday, stating that the “special military operation is continuing” and that Ukraine has continued to hit Russia’s infrastructure, according to The New York Times.
After the meeting in Anchorage, Trump has pushed to assemble a huddle between Putin and Zelensky. Russia has so far rejected the proposed meeting and has dismissed a European-led proposal for security guarantees to include NATO peacekeeping forces.
Russian officials have also questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy, something that Trump dismissed this week as just “posturing.”
“It doesn’t matter what they say. Everybody’s posturing. It’s all bulls‑‑‑-,” the president said during a lengthy Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.