In a devastating escalation of violence, Russia has launched its largest drone attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, resulting in one fatality, at least 23 injuries, and widespread damage to buildings throughout the city. This assault follows a conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, prompting concerns about the ongoing conflict.
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Throughout the night, air raid sirens pierced the air, accompanied by the sound of explosions as Ukrainian air force officials reported the use of 539 drones and 11 missiles. Residents were forced to seek refuge in underground metro stations, with acrid smoke hanging heavily over the city center.
At the scene of a high-rise apartment block that had suffered drone damage, residents surveyed the aftermath as the clean-up began. Emotions ran high; some individuals expressed grief while others remained in shocked silence. Maria Hilchenko, a 40-year-old resident, recalled, “I woke up to the sound of explosions. First, the Shahed drones started buzzing, and then the explosions began. Then people started screaming outside. The explosions from the Shaheds kept coming.”
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack as “deliberately massive and cynical.” Following his earlier discussion with President Trump, he emphasized the need to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses, particularly as concerns over U.S. military aid grow.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha noted the irony of discovering a Chinese component in one of the attacking Shahed drones, especially following a separate incident in which China’s consulate in Odesa sustained minor damage. “What an irony,” he expressed on social media.
Officials in Kyiv reported significant damage to approximately 40 apartment blocks, railway infrastructure, five schools, childcare facilities, cafés, and numerous vehicles across six of the ten districts in Kyiv. Poland confirmed that its embassy’s consular section had also been damaged, although staff members were unharmed.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko informed the public via Telegram that 14 of the injured were hospitalized. Damage was evident on both sides of the Dnipro River, with debris from downed drones igniting fires in medical facilities within the Holosiivskyi district. In recent weeks, Russian airstrikes on Kyiv have intensified, marking some of the deadliest assaults in this ongoing conflict.
President Trump indicated that his call with President Putin yielded no significant progress toward resolving the war, with Moscow reiterating its commitment to addressing the “root causes” of the conflict. Ukraine has raised alarms about the U.S. decision to pause certain military shipments, warning that it could diminish their capacity to defend against escalating airstrikes.
Germany is reportedly exploring options to acquire Patriot air defense systems to enhance their defensive capabilities. President Zelensky urged for greater pressure on Russia, declaring, “For every such strike against people and human life, they must feel appropriate sanctions and other blows to their economy, their revenues, and their infrastructure.”
In response, the Ukrainian air force reported that they successfully destroyed 478 of the incoming threats. Airstrikes were recorded in eight locations, with nine missiles and 63 drones launched in total. Social media platforms buzzed with footage of civilians rushing for safety, firefighters battling blazes in the dark, and the ruins of collapsed buildings.
Adding to the tragedy, Russian shelling near the eastern city of Pokrovsk claimed the lives of five individuals, as both sides continue to deny intentionally targeting civilians in this conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Tragically, thousands of civilians have lost their lives, the vast majority of whom are Ukrainian. While it’s believed that many troops have also perished on the front lines, neither side has disclosed military casualty figures.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
