Key Points and Summary – As diplomatic peace efforts stall, Russia has launched its second-largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the war began, unleashing nearly 600 drones and dozens of missiles on Kyiv and other cities.
-The massive barrage killed at least 18 people and damaged civilian infrastructure, including the European Union Delegation’s building. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy slammed the attack as Moscow’s violent response to negotiations, a sentiment echoed by Western leaders who accused Vladimir Putin of “sabotaging hopes of peace.”
-The brutal strikes underscore the immense difficulty of reaching a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
Russia Launches Second-Biggest Aerial Assault As Negotiations Stall on Ukraine War
Overnight, Russian forces launched their second-biggest aerial assault since the Ukraine invasion began. Drone and missile barrages destroyed civilian infrastructure and more across the nation’s capital, Kyiv, killing at least 18 people and injuring 48. Ukrainian authorities confirmed that more bodies could still be buried beneath the rubble.
Almost 600 drones were reportedly launched at Kyiv on Thursday night, as well as two Kinzhal and nine Iskander-M missiles. An additional 20 Kha-101 cruise missiles were deployed as part of the strikes, targeting infrastructure across the rest of the country.
Ukrainian authorities said that 563 drones were shot down, as well as 26 missiles.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy slammed the assault, suggesting that the strikes were Moscow’s response to ongoing peace negotiations.
“The Russians are not choosing to end the war, only new strikes,” Zelenskyy said on X. “Overnight in Kyiv, dozens of buildings were damaged: residential houses, office centers, civilian enterprises. Among them also the building where the European Union Delegation to Ukraine is located.”
The Ukrainian president urged world leaders to respond “firmly” to Russia, insisting that new sanctions be imposed against the country.
Zelenskyy’s post included a statement by Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, which contained a photograph of the damaged European Union building.
Strikes also damaged a building belonging to the British Council, prompting a response from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described the attacks as “senseless.”
Starmer also accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of “sabotaging hopes of peace” – a reference to recent meetings between U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and European leaders in the United States.
“Putin is killing children and civilians,” Starmer also said, adding that the “bloodshed must end.”
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, also condemned Russia’s “relentless bombings” that “struck civilian infrastructure and killed innocents,” calling for Russia to immediately end its “indiscriminatory attacks on civilian infrastructure” and “join negotiations for a just and lasting peace.”
Despite optimism that President Trump was close to securing a deal with Moscow, following his summit with Russian officials and Vladimir Putin in Alaska, negotiations appear to have stalled.
Moscow has since refused to accept European proposals to send peacekeepers to Ukraine post-war, and discussions about Article 5-like protections are still ongoing.
About the Author:
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York who writes frequently for National Security Journal. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society. His latest book is The Truth Teller: RFK Jr. and the Case for a Post-Partisan Presidency.
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