Kyiv has endured a brutal night of Russian aerial assaults, resulting in at least eight fatalities, including a 12-year-old girl, and leaving 45 people injured. Emergency services are tirelessly sifting through the wreckage of a partially collapsed apartment building in the capital’s Darnytskyi district, where the bodies were recovered and up to 20 individuals are still feared missing. The city has declared Friday a day of mourning as it grapples with the aftermath of one of the most extensive attacks since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.

This latest barrage marks the third consecutive day of reported casualties across Ukraine, signaling an intensified Russian offensive following the recent expiration of a three-day ceasefire. President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that the overnight strikes involved over 670 drones and 56 missiles, impacting more than 180 sites nationwide, with over 50 residential buildings among the targets. While Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted 93% of drones and 73% of missiles, Zelensky emphasized that the persistent “key challenge” remains countering Russian ballistic missiles, underscoring the urgent need for more anti-ballistic systems like the US-made Patriot.

International condemnation was swift, with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen accusing Moscow of indiscriminately targeting civilians. In a statement, she reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to strengthening Ukraine, announcing the finalization of a €6 billion drone support package and pledging continued pressure on Russia’s war economy through sanctions. On the ground, over 1,500 rescuers and police officers, nearly 600 in Kyiv alone, are engaged in extensive search and recovery efforts, having already rescued dozens from damaged structures. Beyond Kyiv, the widespread attacks also caused injuries to 28 people in Kharkiv and two in the Odesa region, highlighting the broad impact of the renewed assault.