A massive overnight Russian bombardment has struck Ukraine's capital city and other regions in what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called "one of the most terrifying strikes" on Kyiv since the war began. The devastating attack destroyed residential buildings and claimed multiple lives amid stalled peace talks.
According to Breitbart London, the assault killed 15 people and injured 156 across Ukraine, with Kyiv suffering the heaviest casualties. Russian forces unleashed more than 440 drones and 32 missiles during the nearly nine-hour bombardment.
The attack demolished a nine-story apartment building in Kyiv, where 14 people died. Officials reported that 139 people were injured in the capital alone, prompting Mayor Vitalii Klitschko to declare Wednesday an official day of mourning.
Residential Buildings Directly Targeted Amid Diplomatic Tensions
The overnight barrage came at a particularly sensitive diplomatic moment, striking during the G7 summit where Zelenskyy had hoped to meet with President Trump. The timing suggests Putin's deliberate disregard for international peace efforts.
Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed that thirty apartments were destroyed in a single residential block after it was struck by a ballistic missile. Among the victims was a U.S. citizen who died from shrapnel wounds, underscoring the international impact of the conflict.
Olena Lapyshniak, a 49-year-old resident whose apartment building was nearly leveled, described the horror: "It's horrible, it's scary, in one moment there is no life. There's no military infrastructure here, nothing here, nothing. It's horrible when people just die at night."
Russia Claims Military Targets While Civilians Bear Brunt
Russia has consistently maintained that it only strikes military targets, despite the United Nations documenting more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilian deaths since the war began. This latest attack appears to contradict those claims as the destruction centered on residential areas.
Ukrainian officials reported that 27 different locations were hit, with over 2,000 emergency personnel responding to the scenes. Fires erupted in multiple Kyiv districts from falling debris as Ukrainian air defenses attempted to intercept the incoming projectiles.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned Russia's actions, stating they showed Putin's "total disrespect" for the U.S. and other countries. "Russia not only rejects a ceasefire or a leaders' meeting to find solutions and end the war. It cynically strikes Ukraine's capital while pretending to seek diplomatic solutions," Sybiha wrote on social media.
Peace Talks Stall As Aerial Assaults Intensify
The massive bombardment follows two unsuccessful rounds of direct peace negotiations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday it remains unclear when another round of talks might take place, suggesting little diplomatic progress.
Russia has significantly escalated its aerial attacks in recent months, launching nearly 500 drones at Ukraine on June 10 in what was described as the largest overnight drone bombardment of the war. The intensification coincides with Russia's summer offensive along the 1,000-kilometer front line.
Ukrainian forces have responded with their own long-range drone strikes. Russian officials claimed they downed 203 Ukrainian drones over ten Russian regions between Monday evening and Tuesday morning, temporarily halting flights at several airports, including all four Moscow airports.
Zelenskyy Seeks International Support Amid Uncertain Future
The devastating attack comes at a critical moment for Ukraine's international relations, particularly regarding U.S. support. Zelenskyy had planned to meet with President Trump at the G7 summit to request additional military aid.
However, Trump returned early to Washington due to Middle East tensions, complicating Ukraine's diplomatic efforts. Earlier this month, Trump suggested it might be better to let Ukraine and Russia "fight for a while" before pursuing peace, raising concerns about future U.S. policy toward the conflict.
Zelenskyy expressed frustration with Putin's continued aggression, stating: "He is doing this simply because he can afford to continue the war. He wants the war to go on. It is troubling when the powerful of this world turn a blind eye to it." The Ukrainian president's comments reflect growing concern about waning international attention to a war now in its fourth year.
