Russia unleashed a massive wave of missile and drone strikes across Ukraine early Thursday, in what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called a direct response to ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war.
At least 19 people, including four children, were killed in Kyiv, with dozens more injured in what officials described as one of the largest attacks since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg condemned the assault, saying it undermines President Donald Trump’s recent peace efforts.
“The targets weren’t military they were civilians, including residential areas, EU and British Council offices, and public transport,” Kellogg said on X.
Zelenskiy confirmed that a Turkish-owned enterprise and the Azerbaijani embassy in Kyiv were also damaged.
Though there were no reported casualties at those locations, the European Union and the UK have summoned Russian diplomats in protest.
The strikes came less than two weeks after Trump hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in Alaska aimed at promoting peace.
“Russia is choosing missiles over diplomacy,” Zelenskiy said, urging further sanctions against Moscow.
The Kremlin claimed it struck military facilities and air bases, while also accusing Ukraine of launching drone attacks inside Russian territory. It maintained that it remains open to peace negotiations.
Despite Russia’s denials, Ukrainian officials report continued targeting of civilians, with over 60 people wounded in Kyiv alone and infrastructure damaged in all city districts.
The Ukrainian military said 13 locations nationwide were hit, with energy facilities targeted, leading to power outages.
Ukraine’s air defences intercepted 26 of 31 Russian missiles and 563 of nearly 600 drones.
Meanwhile, Russia’s defence ministry claimed to have downed 102 Ukrainian drones overnight and struck oil refineries in retaliatory attacks.
In a maritime incident, Russia said it sank a Ukrainian reconnaissance boat in the Danube River using an unmanned vessel.
Ukraine’s navy confirmed one death, with several wounded or missing.
The Danube ports are vital for Ukraine’s fuel and cargo imports, especially as Black Sea access remains under threat.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the strikes “another grim reminder of what is at stake,” confirming that missiles landed near the EU office in Kyiv.
She said the EU is preparing a 19th package of sanctions and exploring ways to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.
Following meetings with von der Leyen and Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan, Zelenskiy said new security guarantees for Ukraine will be formalized next week.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also condemned the attack, confirming damage to the British Council building. “Putin is killing civilians and sabotaging peace,” he said.
As Russia escalates its offensive, Ukrainian cities remain under threat far beyond the front lines, with diplomacy yielding little progress toward ending the war.
