“Russia Launches Largest Air Attack: 810 Drones Strike Kyiv Government Building for First Time in Ukraine War”
In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing war, Russia air attack Ukraine reached a new level on Sunday with the largest aerial assault since the invasion began in 2022. Moscow’s forces launched 810 drones, four ballistic missiles, and nine cruise missiles, striking targets across the country. For the first time, a government building in Kyiv was directly hit, signaling a dangerous shift in Russia’s strategy.
The capital endured 11 hours of continuous air-raid sirens, leaving residents shaken and marking one of the darkest nights of the conflict. According to Ukrainian officials, at least four people were killed, including an infant, and 44 others were injured.
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810 Drones, Missiles, and Deadly Strikes
The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that while most incoming threats were intercepted, 54 drones and nine missiles broke through defenses. Residential neighborhoods in Kyiv, along with cities including Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro, Odesa, and Kremenchuk, suffered widespread destruction.
This surpasses a July 2023 Russian assault, previously considered the largest of the war. Now, Kyiv officials are warning of a new phase of escalation, one where strategic government targets are no longer off-limits.
Kyiv Government Building Targeted for the First Time
Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed that for the first time, the Government building in Kyiv’s central district was hit. Flames erupted from the roof and upper floors as rescuers rushed to contain the fire.
“The Government building, its roof, and upper floors were damaged by enemy attacks. Rescuers are extinguishing the fire. I thank them for their work,” she said in an official statement.
The building, located near the Ukrainian Parliament and the Office of the President, represents a symbolic escalation, suggesting Russia is now deliberately targeting political infrastructure.
Civilian Casualties and Destruction in Kyiv
In the Sviatoshynskyi district, a nine-floor apartment block was partially destroyed, leaving an infant and a young woman dead under the rubble. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that 18 people were injured, while several other high-rise buildings caught fire from falling drone debris.
Residents described the night as the most terrifying assault of the war. Yulia, a local resident, told CNN:
“Everyone is shaking, hoping it will fly past and not hit them. We don’t feel anything anymore, except anger.”
Another resident, Olha Biliashova, added, “In all four years of war, this was the first time it was extremely scary.”
Russia’s Message: Escalation, Not Diplomacy
The timing of the attack comes amid stalled international peace efforts. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the assault “vile,” accusing Russia of deliberately prolonging the war while diplomacy could have started earlier.
“The world can make the Kremlin’s criminals stop killing, all we need is political will,” Zelensky urged.
Trump’s special envoy Keith Kellogg echoed the concern, saying, “Russia’s strike on Kyiv’s government building was not a signal of peace—it was an escalation.”
International Reaction: Condemnation From Europe
Global leaders quickly condemned the attack. French President Emmanuel Macron said Russia was “locking itself ever deeper into the logic of war and terror.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated on X:
“Once again, the Kremlin is mocking diplomacy, trampling international law, and killing indiscriminately. Europe stands fully behind Ukraine.”
Meanwhile, Poland activated its air defenses after strikes reached close to its border, deploying aircraft to protect its airspace.
For further analysis, see the European Union’s official site.
Ukraine’s Counter-Strike and Next Moves
In response, Ukrainian forces launched attacks on Russian energy facilities in Bryansk and Krasnodar, signaling Kyiv’s intent to strike deeper into Russian territory.
Defense Minister Denys Shmygal confirmed that Ukraine is preparing for a meeting on strengthening air defenses and increasing retaliatory strike capability.
“We will rebuild the buildings. But the lives lost cannot be brought back. Every day, the enemy terrorizes and kills our people across the country,” Prime Minister Svyrydenko said.
What This Attack Means for the Future of the War
The Russia air attack Ukraine with 810 drones and missiles marks a turning point in the war. By targeting government infrastructure, Moscow has escalated beyond frontline assaults, directly threatening Ukraine’s political leadership.
The incident has fueled renewed Western discussions about ramping up support for Kyiv, including advanced air-defense systems and tougher sanctions on Russia.
As the war enters this dangerous new chapter, Ukrainians brace for further escalation, living “from strike to strike,” as one resident described it.
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