At least two people, including a baby, were killed during a Russian overnight attack on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, while a fire at a government building was reportedly sparked, according to the city’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko.
Russia launched 823 attacks over Ukraine from Saturday into Sunday; however, according to Ukraine’s Armed Forces, 751 of them were destroyed. On the other hand, nine missiles and 54 strike UAVs did hit the country.
The building houses Ukraine’s Cabinet, including the offices of its ministers, which police have blocked access to as fire engines and ambulances arrived. Russia has yet to target a government building in the city centre.
A direct Russian hit on a government building would mark an escalation in Russia’s war against Ukraine, but Klitschko said the fire was likely caused by the downing of a drone and its debris.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Prime Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, said: “For the first time, the government building was damaged by an enemy attack, including the roof and upper floors,” adding, “We will restore the buildings, but lost lives cannot be returned.”
“The world must respond to this destruction not only with words, but with actions. There is a need to strengthen sanctions pressure — primarily against Russian oil and gas,” she said.
The other victim of the attack was a young woman; both were reportedly killed in Kyiv’s Sviatoshynskyi district. Rescue services working at the scene are currently searching for a third body.
Meanwhile, 17 people across the capital have been injured, seven of whom have been hospitalised.
In the districts of Darnytskyi and Sviatoshynskyi, several residential buildings were reportedly on fire, while in the latter, cars near a service station and warehouse facilities also caught fire.
Sunday’s attack is the second largest on Kyiv in the past two weeks, following Saturday’s strikes.
Russia also targeted cities close to the frontline, including Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih, using drones and missiles, leaving at least four people injured and causing damage to infrastructure, an administrative building, businesses, private residences, high-rise buildings, garages, and vehicles, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service.
Ukraine’s Prime Minister also said in a Facebook post that the cities of Kremenchuk and Odesa were targeted in last night’s attacks.
The attack follows European leaders urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to work towards ending the war, after 26 of Ukraine’s allies pledged to deploy troops as a “reassurance force” once the fighting concludes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated he is willing to meet with Putin to negotiate a peace agreement and has called on US President Donald Trump to impose strict sanctions on Russia to pressure it to end the conflict.