Russia conducted its largest overnight air assault of the conflict, resulting in a fire at the main building of the Ukrainian government in Kyiv and claiming three lives, including that of an infant recovered from the debris, Ukrainian authorities revealed on Sunday. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko stated on the Telegram messaging app that the government’s main building sustained damage from the strike for the first time, particularly affecting its roof and upper floors. Witnesses reported seeing flames engulfing the top floor of the government building in the historic Pecherskyi district, emitting thick smoke into the sky at daybreak.
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 805 drones and 13 missiles overnight, with Ukrainian defense units successfully intercepting 751 drones and four missiles. This marked the highest number of drones deployed by Russia in an attack on Ukraine since the full-scale invasion initiated in February 2022. In the aftermath, Timur Tkachenko, the head of Kyiv’s military administration, confirmed the tragic deaths of an infant and a young woman in the Darnytskyi district, along with 18 injuries and widespread fires throughout the city.
Despite the devastation, Moscow refrained from immediate comments on the assaults. Both conflicting parties deny targeting civilians in their offensives, yet the toll of casualties continues to rise as the conflict persists. The attacks have triggered global condemnation and calls for action, with Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand pledging ongoing support for Ukraine through substantial aid packages and sanctions against Russia. Ukrainian officials have reiterated their plea for international intervention in response to the escalating Russian aggression.
The assault on Kyiv follows a pattern of escalating violence in various regions of Ukraine, with reports of additional strikes in cities such as Kremenchuk, Kryvyi Rih, and Odesa causing significant damage to civilian infrastructure and residential areas. The ongoing conflict has raised concerns among neighboring countries, with Poland activating air defenses in response to the heightened threat of aerial attacks in western Ukraine. The recent onslaught underscores the urgency for a diplomatic resolution to the prolonged conflict, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls for peace negotiations and increased pressure on Russia to end the war.