Russia carried out its largest air assault of the war overnight, striking multiple Ukrainian cities and setting the main government building in central Kyiv on fire. At least four people, including an infant, were killed, Ukrainian officials confirmed on Sunday.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the massive barrage of drones and missiles caused widespread destruction in Kyiv as well as in Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih, Odesa, Sumy, and Chernihiv. He described the attack as a “deliberate crime” and renewed his appeal for stronger air defence support from Ukraine’s allies.
Reuters reporters on the ground saw thick smoke rising from the upper floors of the government building in Kyiv’s historic Pecherskyi district. Emergency crews battled the flames at dawn as rescue teams evacuated nearby residents. Elsewhere in the capital, residential buildings were hit, forcing families into the streets as firefighters worked to contain fires and medics treated the injured.
The assault has fueled concerns that the war shows no sign of winding down, as Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to resist ceasefire calls while deepening ties with China.
Reacting to the strike, US President Donald Trump said Washington is prepared to move into a “second phase” of sanctions against Russia, targeting Moscow and its oil buyers, though he gave no details. US Envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg warned the attack represented a dangerous escalation and signalled Moscow’s intent to intensify the conflict further.
