Russia launched its largest aerial attack since the start of the full-scale war, bombarding cities across Ukraine with over 800 drones and 13 missiles in
Russia launched its largest aerial attack since the start of the full-scale war, bombarding cities across Ukraine with over 800 drones and 13 missiles in a coordinated overnight assault that killed at least four people and damaged critical infrastructure — including Ukraine’s main government building in the capital.
According to Ukraine’s Air Force, the unprecedented wave of strikes hit targets in the north, south, and east of the country, with major attacks reported in Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih, Odesa, and the Sumy and Chernihiv regions.
Kyiv Suffers Direct Hit on Government HQ
In Kyiv, officials confirmed that a nine-storey residential building was struck, killing a young woman and her two-month-old baby. A third person is believed to be trapped under rubble, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
Air raid sirens rang across the capital for more than 11 hours, as explosions echoed through the night.
Smoke was seen billowing from the roof of Ukraine’s central government building in the historic Pecherskyi district, which houses key ministries and cabinet offices.
“For the first time, the government building was damaged by an enemy attack,” said Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, confirming that the roof and upper floors were hit.
“We will rebuild. But lives lost cannot be replaced.”
Zelenskyy: “A Deliberate Crime”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strikes as a “deliberate crime” and again urged Western allies to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses.
“These killings, now — when real diplomacy could have already begun — are a deliberate prolongation of the war,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X.
He also called for tighter sanctions, especially targeting Russian oil and gas exports, which continue to flow to some European nations.
Trump Weighs Sanctions as Russia Claims ‘Military Targets’
The attack comes as U.S. President Donald Trump steps up efforts to end the three-and-a-half-year war, though diplomacy has so far yielded no concrete results. Speaking Sunday, Trump said he was prepared to move to a “second phase” of sanctions against Russia but provided no details.
“The world must respond not just with words, but with action,” said Prime Minister Svyrydenko. “Stronger sanctions on Russian energy are overdue.”
Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed the strikes targeted Ukraine’s military-industrial sites and transport infrastructure — a statement met with skepticism in Kyiv, where civilians continue to bear the brunt of Russian attacks.
Europe Condemns ‘Brutal Escalation’
Leaders from the UK, Italy, Sweden, and Denmark quickly condemned the strikes. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called it a “brutal overnight assault” and reaffirmed support for Ukraine.
“What we’re witnessing is not de-escalation — it’s a calculated escalation,” said the U.S. envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg.
Odesa, Kryvyi Rih, and Kremenchuk Among Other Cities Hit
Across the country, the scale of destruction was widespread:
- In Kryvyi Rih, Zelenskyy’s hometown, transport hubs and residential zones were damaged.
- In Odesa, apartment blocks caught fire following direct hits on civilian infrastructure.
- In Kremenchuk, a central city, power was knocked out in parts following multiple explosions.
In total, Ukrainian officials said dozens of structures were damaged or destroyed, and millions were briefly left without electricity.
Ukraine Responds with Drone Strike on Russian Oil Pipeline
Meanwhile, Ukraine launched a counter-strike deep into Russia’s Bryansk region, targeting the Druzhba oil pipeline, which delivers Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia.
Commander Robert Brovdi, head of Ukraine’s drone forces, claimed “comprehensive fire damage” was inflicted on the pipeline. Neither Moscow nor affected countries have officially commented, though Hungarian oil refiner MOL said deliveries remain on schedule.
The attack underscores Kyiv’s strategy to hit Russian energy assets supplying countries that still purchase Moscow’s oil — a move likely to increase political pressure within the EU.
On the Battlefield: Russia Makes Small Gains
Despite intense bombardments, Ukraine’s front-line resistance remains strong. Al Jazeera’s reporting from the eastern front notes that Russian forces are slowly expanding a “grey zone”, deploying small, elite marine units to bypass entrenched Ukrainian defenses.
However, Ukrainian officials insist the Russian advance has stalled, slowed to “a crawl” since their offensive began in March.
Moscow claimed on Sunday that its forces had taken control of Khoroshe village in the Dnipropetrovsk region, though this has not been independently verified.
Russian air defenses also reported downing 69 Ukrainian drones overnight, according to state media.
Conclusion: A War Entering a New Phase
As Russia escalates its air campaign and Ukraine responds with deeper strikes inside Russian territory, the war appears to be entering a more dangerous and unpredictable phase. With peace talks stalled and diplomacy floundering, civilians on both sides are again caught in the crossfire of a grinding, high-tech war that shows no sign of ending.
