Article
Kyiv Government HQ Damaged as Russia Launches Record 823-Strike Barrage Across Ukraine
Summary
Russia launched 823 drones and missiles in its largest attack on Ukraine, striking Kyiv’s Cabinet building and killing civilians. Ukraine urges global action as fires rage and damage spreads across multiple cities.
In a stark escalation of fighting, Ukraine experienced its most widespread air raid of the war when Russia launched 823 drones and missiles overnight. Among the targets was Ukraine's Cabinet building in Kyiv, in the historic Pecherskyi district, whose roof and upper floors were badly damaged.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported intercepting 747 drones and four missiles, but nine missiles and 54 drones struck 33 targets across the country. The strike claimed the lives of at least four civilians, including a mother and infant, and wounded dozens. Fires broke out in numerous districts, with emergency services battling blazes in residential and government neighborhoods.
The building of the Cabinet of Ministers, which accommodates key ministerial offices, was hit for the first time since the beginning of the war. Ukrainian officials described the strike as a turning point and appealed for increased international sanctions and military assistance. The strike also reached cities near frontlines, including Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Zaporizhzhia, Kremenchuk, and Odesa, hitting infrastructure, apartment blocks, and vehicles.
Ukraine's leadership condemned the strike as a violation of international norms and called for strong global response. The attack follows recent diplomatic efforts to push Russia to the negotiating table, with Ukraine signaling readiness to negotiate on tough conditions.
As Kyiv is left reeling from the strike, the resilience of its people and the necessity of international solidarity remain at the forefront in the unfolding crisis.