Over 20 Dead as Russian Strikes Pound Kyiv in Largest Aerial Attack

Russia has launched its largest aerial assault since the start of the war, targeting Ukrainian cities for the third consecutive day. At least 21 people, including two children, were killed after a Kh-101 missile struck a residential apartment block in Kyiv, with 20 others reported missing. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that 1,567 drones and numerous missiles were deployed since Wednesday, damaging 180 structures across Ukraine, including 50 residential buildings. Significant casualties were also reported in Kharkiv and Odesa. Despite an interception rate exceeding 93%, the sheer volume of attacks overwhelmed defenses. Zelenskyy highlighted that the missile used was manufactured recently, indicating Russia's continued evasion of global sanctions. The escalation coincides with high-level diplomatic talks between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Ukrainian officials urged both leaders to leverage their influence to pressure Vladimir Putin into ending the conflict. European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, condemned the strikes as a deliberate choice of escalation over negotiation, emphasizing that bombing civilians signals no intent for peace.