JUST IN: Russia Strikes Kyiv Again With Deadly Force, Civilian Deaths Reported

Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, was heavily targeted in a large-scale Russian aerial assault overnight, resulting in at least two deaths and injuries to 16 others, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed.

The attack, which marked one of the most intense in recent months, involved a coordinated strike using 18 missiles and approximately 400 drones aimed primarily at the capital.

The assault caused widespread destruction across Kyiv.

According to city officials, debris from downed drones struck a residential building in the central Shevchenkivskyi district, igniting fires in multiple neighborhoods.

As explosions rang out throughout the city, residents endured nearly three hours of terror, with air defense systems scrambling to intercept the incoming barrage.

Videos circulating on social media appeared to capture blasts lighting up the night sky, though these clips have yet to be independently verified.

This latest strike came on the heels of what Ukrainian authorities labeled the most extensive aerial offensive the country has faced so far.

On Tuesday night, Russia reportedly launched an overwhelming 728 drones along with 13 cruise or ballistic missiles targeting various urban centers across Ukraine.

In the early hours of Thursday morning, Ukrainian police reported that Russian drones had struck eight different districts within Kyiv.

Fires broke out in multiple locations, damaging residential buildings, warehouses, non-residential structures, and vehicles.

Tymur Tkachenko, the head of Kyiv’s city administration, shared on Telegram that the city was grappling with widespread blazes and destruction.

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed that the deceased included a 68-year-old woman and a 22-year-old police officer who was stationed at a metro facility during the attack.

In Kyiv’s Podilsky district, Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko reported that a local primary healthcare center had been almost entirely destroyed.

Authorities urged Kyiv residents to remain in shelters until the all-clear signal was given.

Even after the sirens stopped, they were cautioned to keep their windows closed due to lingering smoke across the city.

While it remains unclear whether there were additional casualties beyond Kyiv, Ukraine’s air force reported drone threats in several regions throughout the night.

The Russian government has yet to comment on this most recent wave of strikes.

However, the frequency and intensity of these aerial attacks underscore the deepening conflict and the dimming hopes for a diplomatic resolution.

Just one day prior, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared that diplomatic avenues had effectively run dry.

Echoing this sentiment, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov suggested earlier in the week that efforts at negotiation had reached an impasse.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump voiced growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Trump remarked, “We get a lot of nonsense from Putin.

“He acts friendly, but it doesn’t mean anything.”

Peskov downplayed the comments, noting, “Trump’s manner of speaking is typically blunt. We’re used to it.”

Despite ongoing communication between the two leaders, little progress has been made toward a ceasefire, something Trump once claimed he could broker within 24 hours.

Although he has threatened sanctions against Russia since taking office in January, the Trump administration has yet to impose any concrete measures.

A bipartisan bill is currently moving through the U.S. Congress, aiming to penalize countries such as China and India that continue to import Russian oil and gas.

Trump has indicated he may support the legislation, signaling a potential shift in policy.

As hope for diplomatic progress wanes, the international community is focusing on bolstering Ukraine’s defenses and increasing pressure on Moscow.

European nations are currently drafting another sanctions package aimed at tightening the economic grip on Russia.

These developments are expected to take center stage at a two-day Ukraine recovery conference beginning Thursday in Rome, where representatives from 77 countries are convening.

The meeting will likely address Ukraine’s growing need for air defense support in the face of escalating drone and missile strikes.

Later in the day, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of a diplomatic summit in Malaysia.

Although expectations for meaningful breakthroughs remain low.

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, initiated by President Putin in February 2022, continues to fuel a brutal conflict with no clear end in sight.

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