A large-scale Russian air assault on Ukraine's capital Kyiv resulted in at least eight fatalities, including children, along with many more wounded as residential buildings, schools, and infrastructure sustained heavy damage. The strike involved drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles launched across the city, causing widespread destruction and prompting extensive rescue operations.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported the ongoing search for victims trapped under rubble, with some rescued alive but others feared dead. Several city districts, including Darnytskyi and Dnipro, suffered significant damage. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko declared a day of mourning to honor the casualties and urged calm and resilience.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack as evidence that Russia is determined to continue its war despite international diplomatic pressures calling for ceasefire and negotiations. Zelenskyy also directed sharp criticism at China and Hungary, accusing them of facilitating Russia's war efforts by turning a blind eye to the atrocities. He described their actions as harming the prospects for peace and enabling Russia's aggression.
This devastating strike underscores the ongoing volatility and human toll of the conflict in Ukraine as international diplomatic efforts struggle to gain traction.