Eight Killed in Kyiv as Russia Launches Massive Aerial Strikes

Russia has conducted its largest aerial attacks since the full-scale invasion began, targeting Ukrainian cities for the third consecutive day. A missile strike on a nine-story apartment block in Kyiv killed at least eight people, including a 12-year-old girl, and left 20 others missing. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported over 30 injuries in the capital alone. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that 180 structures were damaged nationwide, with 50 being residential buildings. Additional strikes hit Kharkiv, Odesa, Kremenchuk, Bila Tserkva, and Sumy, causing further casualties. Despite air defenses intercepting over 93% of the more than 1,560 drones and missiles launched since Wednesday, the sheer volume of attacks has stretched resources. The offensive occurred shortly after a brief World War II anniversary ceasefire ended, which Russia rejected extending. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged the US and China to leverage their influence over Moscow to halt the aggression, noting the timing coincided with high-level talks in Beijing. Meanwhile, Hungary’s new foreign minister condemned the attacks, marking a diplomatic shift from previous pro-Russian stances.