by EuroNews with AP
It’s published
According to city mayor Vitali Klitschko, the fire in a government building was caused, but at least two people, including a baby, were killed in a one-night attack on Ukrainian capital Kiev.
Russia launched 823 attacks over Ukraine from Saturday to Sunday. However, 751 of them were destroyed, according to the Ukrainian army. Meanwhile, nine missiles and 54 strike UAVs struck the country.
The building houses Ukrainian ministers, including the minister’s office, and police blocked access when fire trucks and ambulances arrived. Russia has yet to target government buildings in the city centre.
A direct hit in government buildings would mark the escalation of Russia’s war against Ukraine, but Klitschko said the fire would likely be caused by the collapse of the drone and its debris.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Prime Minister Julia Swillidenko said “the government’s buildings were damaged for the first time due to enemy attacks, including roofs and upper floors,” adding that “the buildings will be restored, but we cannot return our lives.”
“The world must respond to this destruction with action, not just words. We need to increase the sanctions pressure mainly on Russia’s oil and gas,” she said.
Another victim of the attack was a young woman. Both were reportedly killed in Kiev’s Svyatsinsky district. Rescue services working on the scene are currently looking for a third body.
Meanwhile, 17 people in the capital were injured, seven of whom were hospitalized.
In the Darnytskyi and Sviatoshynskyi districts, several residential buildings reportedly had fires, but in the latter, cars near the service station and warehouse facilities also caused fires.
Sunday’s attack is Kyiv’s second-largest in the last two weeks, following Saturday’s strike.
Russia also used drones and missiles to target cities near the frontline, including Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih, causing at least four people to be injured and causing damage to infrastructure, management buildings, businesses, private homes, skyscrapers, garages and vehicles.
The Ukrainian prime minister also said in a Facebook post that the cities of Clemenchuk and Odesa were targeted in last night’s attacks.
The attack follows European leaders urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to work towards the end of the war after 26 Ukrainian allies have pledged to deploy their troops as “feeling powers” once the battle is over.
Ukrainian President Voldimia Zelensky said he was willing to meet with Putin and negotiate a peace deal, calling on President Donald Trump to put pressure on him to end the conflict to impose strict sanctions on Russia.