KVIV: Russia pounded Ukraine with deadly missiles and drone strikes early on Thursday in a sweeping attack that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said was Moscow's answer to diplomatic efforts to end its war.
At least 18 people, including four children, were killed in the capital, officials from the city administration said. As the sun rose, rescuers dug through a wrecked block on Kyiv's left bank and pulled at least two bodies from the rubble.
The strikes damaged the European Union's (EU) mission and British Council offices in the city, officials said. There were no reports of casualties at either site.
"Russia chooses ballistics instead of the negotiating table," Zelenskyy said on X, calling for new sanctions on Russia. "It chooses to continue killing instead of ending the war."
Russia said its attack had hit military industrial facilities and air bases, and that Ukraine had also attacked Russian targets. The Kremlin said it was still interested in pursuing peace talks.
Moscow has regularly denied targeting civilians. Ukrainian officials say scores of civilians have died in Russian strikes on densely populated areas over the recent months, and thousands since the start of the war. During the attack on Kyiv, explosions rang out as clouds of smoke rose into the night sky. Drones whirred overhead.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko described it as one of the biggest attacks on the city in recent months. At least 38 people were wounded in the hours-long assault which damaged buildings in all city districts, officials said.
'ANOTHER GRIM REMINDER'
"This is another grim reminder of what is at stake. It shows that the Kremlin will stop at nothing to terrorize Ukraine, blindly killing civilians and even targeting the European Union," EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters in Brussels. She said two missiles had struck near the office within 20 seconds of each other.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the assault, which he said had damaged the British Council building. "Putin is killing children and civilians and sabotaging hopes of peace," he wrote on X.
ONLY 3 NATO NATIONS WILL MEET 2025 DEFENCE SPENDING TARGET
Meanwhile, NATO released data on Thursday showing that all its 32 members are projected to finally meet a longstanding goal of spending 2% of their overall economic output on defence this year, while only three- Poland, Lithuania's and Latvia, all with bitter memories of past rule by Moscow-will meet a new goal set at 3.5% of GDP agreed in June.
At least 18 people, including four children, were killed in the capital, officials from the city administration said. As the sun rose, rescuers dug through a wrecked block on Kyiv's left bank and pulled at least two bodies from the rubble.
The strikes damaged the European Union's (EU) mission and British Council offices in the city, officials said. There were no reports of casualties at either site.
"Russia chooses ballistics instead of the negotiating table," Zelenskyy said on X, calling for new sanctions on Russia. "It chooses to continue killing instead of ending the war."
Russia said its attack had hit military industrial facilities and air bases, and that Ukraine had also attacked Russian targets. The Kremlin said it was still interested in pursuing peace talks.
Moscow has regularly denied targeting civilians. Ukrainian officials say scores of civilians have died in Russian strikes on densely populated areas over the recent months, and thousands since the start of the war. During the attack on Kyiv, explosions rang out as clouds of smoke rose into the night sky. Drones whirred overhead.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko described it as one of the biggest attacks on the city in recent months. At least 38 people were wounded in the hours-long assault which damaged buildings in all city districts, officials said.
'ANOTHER GRIM REMINDER'
"This is another grim reminder of what is at stake. It shows that the Kremlin will stop at nothing to terrorize Ukraine, blindly killing civilians and even targeting the European Union," EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters in Brussels. She said two missiles had struck near the office within 20 seconds of each other.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the assault, which he said had damaged the British Council building. "Putin is killing children and civilians and sabotaging hopes of peace," he wrote on X.
ONLY 3 NATO NATIONS WILL MEET 2025 DEFENCE SPENDING TARGET
Meanwhile, NATO released data on Thursday showing that all its 32 members are projected to finally meet a longstanding goal of spending 2% of their overall economic output on defence this year, while only three- Poland, Lithuania's and Latvia, all with bitter memories of past rule by Moscow-will meet a new goal set at 3.5% of GDP agreed in June.
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