Russian Strikes Kill 14 in Kyiv as Ukraine Faces One of Its Worst Attacks Yet

In one of the deadliest attacks on the Ukrainian capital in recent months, Russian strikes killed at least 14 people and wounded over 40 others in Kyiv, according to Ukrainian authorities. President Volodymyr Zelensky described the assault as “one of the most horrific attacks” on the capital since the full-scale invasion began more than three years ago.

The nationwide barrage included 440 drones and 32 missiles, which rained down on multiple regions, including the southerport city of Odesa. One person was confirmed dead and 10 injured in Odesa as a result of the Russian strikes, Zelensky said.

Kyiv, a city that has endured repeated bombardments, was rocked by 27 separate strikes, according to Ukraine’s Interior Minister Igor Klymenko. He confirmed that residential buildings, educational institutions, and critical infrastructure facilities were among the targets hit by Russian missiles and drones.

President Zelensky reported that “an entire section of an apartment block” had been destroyed. Rescue teams were on the scene, working frantically to locate survivors buried under debris. The exact number of people still trapped beneath the rubble remained unknown as search efforts continued into the night.

Russian Strikes Kill 14 in Kyiv as Ukraine Faces

“Right now in Kyiv, efforts are underway to rescue people from under the rubble of an ordinary residential building – it’s still unclear how many remain trapped,” Zelensky wrote on Facebook. “Kyiv has faced one of the most horrific attacks,” he added.

AFP journalists in central Kyiv reported hearing the ominous buzz of drones followed by explosions as Ukrainian air defense systems attempted to intercept incoming projectiles. The streets, once bustling, were deserted as people sought safety in underground metro stations, which have doubled as bomb shelters.

Inside one central station, residents huddled together on mats, some trying to sleep, others exchanging information about the attack, and many comforting their pets amid the chaos. The city’s emergency services worked tirelessly to respond to calls across the 27 impacted locations.

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry later confirmed that the death toll in Kyiv had risen to 14, with at least 44 people injured. In Odesa, six were wounded, and one person was confirmed dead. An additional injury was reported in Chernigiv due to the strikes.

Among the victims was a 62-year-old U.S. citizen who died during the attack on Kyiv’s Solomyansky district. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that the man was in a house opposite the one where medics were actively providing emergency care to the injured.

“This is how Russia fights – it kills civilians in ordinary homes, deliberately,” said Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff, in a social media post.

Zelensky appealed to the international community not to “turn a blind eye” to the escalating violence. “Russian President Vladimir Putin does this solely because he can afford to continue the war. He wants the war to go on,” Zelensky said, blaming Russia’s aggression on the lack of international pressure sufficient to force a ceasefire.

Despite the continuing violence, diplomatic talks remain at a stalemate. Ukraine has rejected Moscow’s ceasefire conditions, calling them “ultimatums,” while Russia has similarly refused Ukraine’s call for an “unconditional” truce supported by European allies and the United States.

The renewed Russian strikes come as efforts by the United States to mediate a ceasefire appear to be floundering. President Zelensky had hoped to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada. However, Biden left the summit early amid rising tensions in the Middle East, particularly between Israel and Iran, leaving Zelensky’s diplomatic opportunity in question.

As Russia intensifies its aerial assaults on civilian areas, Ukrainian officials continue to urge for more international aid and military support to defend its skies. The scale and intensity of the recent Russian strikes underscore Ukraine’s vulnerability and the human toll of a war that shows no signs of ending soon.

“These are not just numbers. Each strike takes lives, shatters families, and deepens the suffering of our people,” said Interior Minister Klymenko.

For now, as Kyiv reels from one of the most devastating nights in recent memory, the country remains on high alert, bracing for the possibility of more Russian strikes in the days to come.

Source- EWN