Russia unleashed its largest air assault on Ukraine since the war began, striking the main government building in Kyiv and killing at least four people, including an infant. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned the overnight barrage, calling it a deliberate crime and urging allies to boost air defenses.
The attack involved 805 drones and 13 missiles, with Ukraine’s air force downing 751 drones and four missiles. Despite the high interception rate, Kyiv suffered major damage, including fires in residential buildings and partial destruction of apartments. The symbolic hit on the government headquarters in the Pecherskyi district marked the first time this building was struck during the war.
Casualties included a young woman and an infant in the Darnytskyi district, while more than 20 others were injured across Kyiv. Explosions and fires also damaged multiple high-rise apartments in the Sviatoshynskyi district. Air raid sirens lasted more than 11 hours, making it one of the longest and most intense attacks to date.
Elsewhere, strikes hit Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih, Odesa, Sumy, and Chernihiv. In Odesa, three civilians were wounded as residential buildings caught fire. Kremenchuk experienced explosions that cut power and damaged a key bridge.
Ukraine retaliated by striking the Druzhba oil pipeline in Russia’s Bryansk region, part of its broader strategy to weaken Moscow’s energy infrastructure.
The U.S. and European allies condemned the strikes. U.S. President Donald Trump hinted at tougher sanctions, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested new economic pressure could push Russia toward peace talks. France and Poland reiterated support for Ukraine, though discussions about additional military assistance continue.
Zelenskiy emphasized that global outrage must turn into concrete action, as Ukraine braces for further escalations in the conflict.