Russia conducted its largest overnight air assault of the conflict, resulting in a fire engulfing the main building of the Ukrainian government in Kyiv and claiming the lives of three individuals, including an infant found in the debris, Ukrainian authorities revealed on Sunday.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko conveyed on the Telegram messaging app that the government structure sustained damage from the attack for the first time, affecting its roof and upper levels. Witnesses observed flames consuming the top floor of the government building in the historic Pecherskyi district, with dense smoke billowing into the sky at dawn.
The Ukrainian air force reported on Telegram that Russia deployed 805 drones and 13 missiles during the overnight assault, with Ukrainian defense forces intercepting 751 drones and four missiles. This marked the highest utilization of drones by Russia in its offensive against Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Amid the devastation, Timur Tkachenko, the head of the capital’s military administration, disclosed the tragic discovery of an infant’s body in the Darnytskyi district, where a residential building suffered damage. Additionally, a young woman lost her life in the same district located east of the Dnipro River.
The assault resulted in 18 injuries and multiple fires across the city, according to state emergency officials. While both sides deny intentionally targeting civilians, casualties have continued to mount since Russia initiated the invasion of Ukraine over three years ago.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported the death of an elderly woman in a bomb shelter and injuries to a pregnant woman in Darnytskyi. The attacks also caused structural damage to residential buildings in various districts, triggering fires and partial collapses.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Svyrydenko appealed for increased weaponry and global action against the Russian aggression, emphasizing the irreplaceable loss of lives and the ongoing terror inflicted on Ukrainian civilians.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand affirmed Canada’s unwavering support for Ukraine, pledging over $22 billion in military, humanitarian aid, and financial assistance, alongside sanctions on numerous individuals and entities and measures to stabilize oil prices.
Kyiv’s military administrator, Tkachenko, accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilian sites, as explosions rocked the central city of Kremenchuk, disrupting power supply and damaging a bridge over the Dnipro River.
In response to the escalating conflict, Poland activated its air assets to safeguard against potential air assaults on western Ukraine. This recent onslaught marks the second major Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv within a fortnight, as prospects for peace negotiations diminish.
The assault coincided with calls from European leaders for Russian President Vladimir Putin to pursue peace efforts, following commitments from 26 nations to deploy troops as a “reassurance force” for Ukraine post-conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed readiness to engage in peace talks with Putin and urged significant sanctions from the U.S. to compel Russia to end the war.