Severe Attack on Kiev by Russia
Russia has executed one of the most intense nighttime assaults on Kiev, deploying hundreds of drones and numerous missiles aimed at the Ukrainian capital. This onslaught has resulted in the destruction of residential areas and has tragically claimed at least 18 lives, in addition to injuring over 90 people, as reported by Reuters.
In a conversation with FOX News Digital, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations described this attack as possibly the “most horrifying night in Kiev” since the full-scale invasion began.
The ambassador’s mother-in-law, who remains in Kiev, conveyed her terror during a morning call, likening the experience to an apocalyptic unfolding. “It felt like everyone was just praying,” she said.
Republican Rep. Don Bacon has called for Russia’s exclusion from the U.N. Security Council, advocating for it to be seen as a “pariah state.”
The assault reverberated through the heart of Kiev for hours, causing panic among residents who swiftly sought refuge in air raid shelters and subway stations. This incident has been marked as the most destructive in Kiev this year and is notably the deadliest assault since May, when 24 lives were lost due to the collapse of an apartment building.
According to Ukraine’s air force, approximately 74 missiles and 496 drones were unleashed by Russia overnight. Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yuri Ifnat expressed concern about the ongoing shortage of Patriot missiles, which has led to fewer interceptions of ballistic missiles.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who returned abruptly from Ireland, reported widespread damage across more than 20 areas within the capital. He stressed the importance of air defense supplies for Ukraine.
Kiev’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, has proclaimed a day of mourning, indicating the extent of the damage across the city which is home to about 3 million people.
Emergency services are currently sifting through the wreckage of a nine-story building along the Dnipro River, where they are searching for trapped individuals. East2West footage captured the chaos, showing a barrage of gunfire and frightened residents, including a baby, as explosions occurred nearby.
More than 20 different locations sustained damage, including residential and diplomatic buildings, as well as the National Institute of Biochemistry, where modern labs were devastated.
European Union Ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Maternova, remarked that Russia effectively “unleashed hell on Kiev,” with fire wreaking havoc on facilities housing diplomatic personnel—though no injuries were reported among them.
The Russian Defense Ministry described the assault as a “large-scale attack,” intended to target military and energy infrastructures across Kiev and other cities. They claimed this was retaliation for a Ukrainian drone strike against an oil refinery in their territory, which reportedly resulted in a fatality.
In light of these developments, Poland has temporarily scrambled fighter jets, and Finland has instated air restrictions in the Gulf of Finland. Romanian officials stated that a Russian drone was detected near its border, prompting NATO responses.
In response to these recent aggressions, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Karas announced potential new sanctions against entities backing Russia’s military efforts. “The more Moscow attacks civilians, the more sanctions we must impose,” she stated.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, thousands of Ukrainian civilians have lost their lives due to consistent attacks in various cities, including Kiev. The Russian government defends its actions, insisting they do not intentionally target civilians, arguing that strikes on infrastructure are justifiable since they impede Ukraine’s war capabilities.
