Russia launched its largest aerial attack on Ukraine early yesterday, striking the heart of Kyiv and leaving four people dead. The unprecedented raid hit the city’s sprawling cabinet of ministers complex, marking the first time the government’s core administrative hub has come under direct fire.
Drone strikes also damaged several high-rise buildings across the capital, according to emergency services. The attack comes amid Russia’s ongoing three-and-a-half-year invasion, as Moscow presses hardline demands while diplomatic efforts, particularly from the United States, to broker peace have made little headway.
Russia claims it targeted a plant and logistics hub in Kyiv and denies hitting the government complex. Its defence ministry stated that “no strikes were carried out on other targets within the boundaries of Kyiv.” Despite these assertions, police cordoned off the area surrounding the damaged building, where the roof and upper floors were left scorched.
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko posted footage from inside the affected offices, showing charred walls and shattered furniture. “We will restore the buildings. But we cannot bring back lost lives. The enemy terrorises and kills our people every day across the country,” she said.
According to the Ukrainian air force, at least 810 drones and 13 missiles were launched against Ukraine between late Saturday and early Sunday, setting a new record. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the assault, calling it “a deliberate crime and a prolongation of the war” at a moment when diplomacy could have prevailed.
Zelensky discussed the attack with French President Emmanuel Macron, who pledged support for strengthening Ukraine’s defence. Macron also condemned Russia, saying it “is locking itself ever deeper into the logic of war and terror.” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen echoed the condemnation, describing the strikes as “cowardly” and a clear sign that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “not serious about peace.”
The attack follows a pledge by more than two dozen European countries to monitor any potential ceasefire, with some willing to deploy troops if required. Kyiv continues to insist on Western-backed security guarantees to prevent future attacks, but Moscow warns that any foreign troops on Ukrainian soil would be deemed legitimate targets.
Meanwhile, on the eastern front, Russia continues to press forward, capturing another village in the Dnipropetrovsk region amid costly and protracted battles. Roughly 20 percent of Ukrainian territory remains under Russian occupation, underscoring the scale and intensity of the ongoing conflict.
