In a massive overnight escalation, Russia unleashed its largest air attack since the invasion began, targeting Ukraine with a relentless barrage of drones and missiles. The assault resulted in the main government building in central Kyiv being set ablaze and claimed the lives of at least two people in the capital, one of whom was an infant, according to Ukrainian officials. The strike on the symbolic government structure, located in the historic Pecherskyi district, sent thick plumes of smoke billowing into the sky as seen by Reuters witnesses in the early hours of the morning.
The widespread attack caused significant damage across numerous regions, extending far beyond the capital. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reported that the north, south, and east of the country, including the cities of Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih, and Odesa, as well as the Sumy and Chernihiv regions, were all hit. In Kyiv itself, residential apartments were damaged, forcing dozens of residents to flee onto the streets, wrapped in blankets as emergency crews worked to extinguish the fires. Zelenskiy condemned the assault as a “deliberate crime and a prolongation of the war.”
The scale of the attack has cast a deep shadow over the prospects for a near-term end to the conflict, underscoring a growing sense of pessimism. Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown no willingness to heed calls for a ceasefire, appearing emboldened by strengthening diplomatic and economic ties with China. This latest offensive serves as a stark reminder of the immense challenges facing Ukraine and its allies in achieving a diplomatic solution.
In response, President Zelenskiy issued a fresh and urgent appeal for Western allies to significantly strengthen Ukrainian air defenses. While Kyiv’s European partners have vowed continued political and military support, concrete offers of new assistance are still under discussion. The attack intensifies the pressure on international leaders to find a more effective response to a conflict that shows no signs of abating.
