Following a massive wave of Russian attacks on Sunday, a fire broke out on the top floors of a government administrative building in Kyiv’s Pecherskyi district. This attack, which used over 800 drones and 13 missiles, also resulted in the deaths of at least three people, including an infant, and injured 18 others in the capital city.
Details of the Attack and Damage
Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, reported that the government building fire was a result of a complex attack that began with drones and was followed by missile strikes. The head of Kyiv’s military administration, Timar Tkachenko, stated that Russia was “deliberately and consciously striking civilian targets.”
In addition to the government building, the overnight strikes caused significant damage across the city:
- A fire erupted on two stories of a residential building in the same district.
- In the western district of Sviatoshynskyi, a nine-story residential building was partially destroyed.
- Falling drone debris set off fires in three other multi-story residential buildings.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the scale of the assault, stating on X that “more than 800 drones, 13 missiles, including 4 ballistic” were used. He also noted that some drones had crossed the border from Belarus.
In response to the attack, Ukraine struck the Druzhba oil pipeline in Russia’s Bryansk region, inflicting “comprehensive fire damage,” according to Ukrainian drone forces commander Robert Brovdi.
International Reactions
The attack drew swift condemnation from European leaders.
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X that “the Kremlin is mocking diplomacy, trampling international law and killing indiscriminately,” and reaffirmed Europe’s full support for Ukraine.
- French President Emmanuel Macron also denounced the strikes, pledging continued support for Kyiv and stressing the need for a just and lasting peace.
Tribute to Ukrainian Intelligence
On the Day of Ukraine’s Military Intelligence, President Zelenskyy paid tribute to the country’s intelligence officers, praising their courage and dedication. “Every day, our people do more than seems possible. They find the enemy’s weak spots and strike them,” he wrote on X, while also mourning those who “gave their lives while carrying out combat missions.”