Russia unleashed its third straight day of massive drone and missile attacks on Ukraine, demolishing an apartment building in Kyiv where four people were killed and 33 wounded. As dawn broke on Thursday, a scene of devastation came into focus in the capital's leafy Darnytsia neighborhood, where all 18 apartments in a nine-story building were destroyed. According to Associated Press, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia fired ballistic and cruise missiles, adding that Moscow had launched more than 1,560 drones against Ukrainian population centers since Wednesday. In all, some 180 sites across the country were damaged, including more than 50 residential buildings. Among the casualties was a 12-year-old girl, with Zelenskyy saying at least 20 people are believed to be missing. Mayor Vitali Klitschko declared Friday to be a day of mourning for the victims.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha linked the latest Kyiv attack to the ongoing Xi-Trump summit in Beijing, according to reports from Associated Press. The attack involved hundreds of drones, ballistic and cruise missiles launched at Ukraine's capital during the diplomatic meeting of world leaders. Sybiha emphasized that the timing of the assault, when global leaders were meeting to discuss peace and cooperation, demonstrated Russia's threat to international security. As per Associated Press, the encounter underscored Moscow's persistent threat to global stability, with the call for an intensified stance against Russia growing louder as Putin dispatched these weapons towards Ukraine's capital. The Kyiv office of defense contractor Skyeton, specializing in reconnaissance drones, was destroyed in the overnight attack, although the company had anticipated such a development and had relocated its production. Russian drones also struck a vehicle carrying U.N. staff who were delivering aid to residents of Kherson in southern Ukraine, with the vehicle marked and attacked twice without any casualties.
Sybiha called for 'no illusions' about ending the Russian war on Ukraine, as reported by Associated Press. The Foreign Minister stated that 'only pressure on Moscow can make him stop' Putin's military actions. He specifically identified the US and Chinese leaders as having sufficient leverage to compel Russia to end the conflict, suggesting that diplomatic pressure from these major powers could be effective in resolving the ongoing war. Emphasizing the urgency, Sybiha contended that 'no illusions' should cloud the international community's response to Russia's aggressive campaign. The attacks occurred during U.S. President Donald Trump's trip to China, highlighting the timing of Russia's military escalation with diplomatic discussions. British Defense Secretary John Healey called Thursday's attack 'shocking' and said he had accelerated U.K. deliveries of air defenses in response to the escalating conflict.
According to Associated Press reports, Sybiha's statements came during the Xi-Trump summit in Beijing, where leaders of the most powerful countries were meeting with hopes for peace, predictability and cooperation. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister's linkage of the Kyiv attack to this diplomatic gathering highlighted Russia's continued disregard for international diplomatic processes and the ongoing threat it poses to global security frameworks. As per Associated Press, the attacks occurred during a period of high-level discussions aimed at forging peace, underscoring the stark contrast between diplomatic intentions and military reality. The Hungarian government also summoned the Russian ambassador over a drone attack near Hungary's border with Ukraine, marking a stark shift in tone by new Prime Minister Péter Magyar toward Moscow after years of cozy relations with the Kremlin under former leader Viktor Orbán. Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina also resigned after her government's coalition partner withdrew support, with the government facing pressure over handling stray drones suspected to be from Ukraine crossing into Latvian territory.
Ukraine's air defense forces are under severe strain, with air force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat telling Associated Press that the country is experiencing the largest strikes since the start of the full-scale invasion. Despite the pressure, Ukraine's interception rate of drones and missiles was over 93%, with air defenses shooting down or jamming 693 Russian targets overnight, including 41 missiles and 652 drones of various types nationwide. Fifteen missiles and 23 drones scored direct hits across 24 locations, with debris from downed drones falling in another 18 locations. Strikes on energy infrastructure left customers in Kyiv and 11 other regions temporarily without power, according to national grid operator Ukrenergo. The attacks undercut recent suggestions from Trump and Putin that the war, which began with Moscow's all-out invasion of its neighbor in 2022, is nearing its end. Ukrainian cities including Kremenchuk, Bila Tserkva, Kharkiv, Sumy and Odesa were also bombarded, with damage recorded across six districts of the capital. On Wednesday, a rare daytime attack on Kyiv killed at least six people, with that assault involving 800 drones and striking about 20 regions in what was among the longest such attacks of the war.
