Russia has attacked Kyiv with the largest aerial offensive since the war began – killing at least two people and striking a key government building.
805 drones and decoys were unleashed, in addition to 13 various missiles. Of these, Ukraine shot down and neutralised 747 drones and four missiles.
The bodies of a baby and his mother were pulled from the rubble, and 15 others were injured in the attack today.
Sunday’s attack is the second mass Russian drone and missile attack to target Kyiv in the span of two weeks, as hopes for peace talks wane.
A potentially major escalation – key government building hit
Plumes of smoke were seen rising from the roof of Kyiv‘s cabinet of ministers building, but it was not immediately clear if the smoke was the result of a direct hit or debris, which would mark an escalation in Russia’s air campaign.
Russia has so far avoided targeting government buildings in the city centre.
Ukraine’s prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, said: ‘We will restore the buildings, but lost lives cannot be returned.
‘The world must respond to this destruction not only with words, but with actions. There is a need to strengthen sanctions pressure – primarily against Russian oil and gas.’
The attack comes after European leaders pressed Russian leader Vladimir Putin to work to end the war after 26 of Ukraine’s allies pledged to deploy troops as a ‘reassurance force’ for the war-torn country once the fighting ends.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is ready to meet Mr Putin to negotiate a peace agreement, and has urged US President Donald Trump to impose punishing sanctions on Russia to push it to end the war.
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