Russia launches largest strike against Kyiv since Alaska summit with Trump

Russia launched its largest drone and missile strike against Ukraine since the Alaska summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump. The attack largely targeted Kyiv.

Ukrainian authorities reported at least 15 people were killed and dozens were injured, making it one of the deadliest single strikes in recent months. Ukrainian officials said Russia fired 598 drones and 31 missiles, though they claimed to have shot down most of them.

Nearly all the missiles, including two of the four hypersonic Kinzhal missiles and 10 Iskander ballistic missiles, targeted Kyiv, according to open-source intelligence analysts.

Secondary explosions were recorded at some locations, though the target was unclear. Some speculated targets include drone factories and logistics hubs.

Many of the civilian deaths were the result of a munition hitting a five-story apartment building, causing much of it to collapse. The extent of the damage suggests it was a missile that hit the building, rather than a Geran drone.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union delegation office was damaged in the attack when two missiles hit 50 meters, or 164 feet, away, though no one was hurt. The British Council building was also damaged.

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The drone and missile strike was the second largest of the war and came after a reduced level of attacks due to high-level peace negotiations mediated by the United States. The attack is already being interpreted as a message by Kyiv.

“The Russians are not choosing to end the war, only new strikes. Overnight in Kyiv, dozens of buildings were damaged: residential houses, office centers, civilian enterprises. Among them also the building where the European Union Delegation to Ukraine is located,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

“It is crucial now that the world responds firmly. Russia must stop this war it started and continues. For the spurning of ceasefire and for the constant Russian attempts to weasel out of negotiations, new strong sanctions are needed. Only this can work. The Russians understand only strength and pressure. For every strike, Moscow must feel the consequences,” he added.

Zelensky then thanked several European leaders for their public messages of support.

Ukraine has also launched many drone strikes against Russia in recent weeks, largely targeting oil infrastructure.

In Trump’s first interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity after the Alaska summit, the president changed his tune on Russian drone and missile strikes against Ukraine. He stressed in the interview that the missiles and drones were aiming for military targets within major Ukrainian cities, a justification that may soften his previous outrage over Russian missile and drone strikes.

The attacks are likely to complicate peace negotiations further, which have stalled following high expectations after this month’s Alaska summit. Russia and Ukraine retain their mutually exclusive peace goals, with Trump acknowledging that bringing an end to the war has been more difficult than anticipated.

“The one that I thought would be the easiest is turning out to be the hardest,” he said at a Tuesday Cabinet meeting. “But I think I’ll get it done.”

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The president remained optimistic about his hoped-for meeting between Zelensky and Putin, dismissing comments by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that Putin wasn’t ready to meet with Zelensky and questioning his legitimacy.

“It doesn’t matter what they say. Everybody’s posturing. It’s all bulls***. OK? Everybody’s posturing,” Trump said.