Russia unleashed its most extensive aerial assault on Ukraine since the start of the war, striking the seat of government in Kyiv and killing at least four people. The unprecedented barrage targeted Ukraine’s cabinet of ministers for the first time, leaving parts of the sprawling government complex in flames and prompting warnings from President Volodymyr Zelensky that Moscow’s actions will only prolong the conflict. Drone strikes also hit several residential high-rises in the capital, with emergency services battling fires and rescuing survivors.
According to Ukrainian officials, Russia launched more than 810 drones and 13 missiles in the overnight attack, setting a grim new record in the three-and-a-half-year invasion. While Kyiv accused Moscow of deliberately hitting civilian and government infrastructure, Russia’s defense ministry insisted it had only targeted a military plant and logistics hub in the city, denying responsibility for the government building strike. Police sealed off the damaged area, while Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko vowed to rebuild, saying: “We will restore the buildings, but we cannot bring back lost lives.”
The assault sparked swift condemnation across Europe. French President Emmanuel Macron, after a call with Zelensky, pledged to bolster Ukraine’s defenses, declaring that Russia was sinking “deeper into the logic of war and terror.” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the strikes as “cowardly” and evidence that Vladimir Putin is “not serious about peace.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed the outrage, accusing the Kremlin of mocking diplomacy.
The attack comes amid heightened international efforts to end the war. Over two dozen European countries recently pledged to monitor any peace agreement, with some signaling willingness to deploy troops to Ukraine — a proposal that Putin has warned would make Western forces legitimate targets. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has struggled to secure meaningful progress in mediation talks, as Russia continues pressing hardline demands while escalating military pressure.
On the battlefield, Moscow has continued to gain ground in the east, capturing another village in the Dnipropetrovsk region despite heavy losses. With Russia now controlling roughly 20 percent of Ukrainian territory, Kyiv has renewed calls for stronger Western-backed security guarantees. For Zelensky, the latest attack underscores a harsh reality: while diplomacy remains stalled, Russia is intensifying its campaign to wear down Ukraine’s resilience and international resolve.
