A series of Russian drone and missile strikes targeted Kyiv overnight, resulting in the deaths of at least six people and injuries to more than 50, Ukrainian officials have confirmed. The strikes, which hit several districts across the Ukrainian capital, have left widespread destruction in their wake.
One of the victims was a six-year-old boy, and three others perished when an apartment block collapsed following a missile strike. Tymur Tkachenko, the head of Kyiv’s military administration, stated that the death toll could rise, with more than two dozen locations across the city suffering damage.
Destruction Across Kyiv
According to Igor Klymenko, Ukraine’s Interior Minister, one of the strikes destroyed an entire entrance to a high-rise residential building in Kyiv. “Rescuers are clearing the rubble,” Klymenko added, emphasizing the scale of the damage. Kyiv’s Sviatoshynsky and Solomyansky districts were hit hardest, with one fatality and 20 people injured in those areas alone.
The attack also shattered the windows of a children’s hospital ward in Kyiv’s Shevchenkivsky district, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko, who reported the damage via Telegram. Other institutions, including a school, a kindergarten, and a higher education facility, were also affected by the strikes.
In an emotional statement on social media, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the situation as a “horrible morning,” confirming that there are still people trapped under the rubble. Sybiha, who has long criticized Russian aggression, urged increased sanctions on Moscow, asserting that “it’s time to put maximum pressure on Moscow” to force a ceasefire.
US President Trump’s Deadline for Putin
The Russian onslaught comes as the deadline for a potential ceasefire approaches. Earlier in July, US President Donald Trump set a 50-day deadline for Moscow to engage in peace talks with Kyiv. During a visit to the UK earlier this week, Trump shortened that deadline to “ten or 12 days,” expressing frustration over Russian missile strikes, despite previous assurances of a ceasefire.
Trump condemned the contrast between Russian rhetoric and actions, stating, “We were going to have a ceasefire and maybe peace… and all of a sudden you have missiles flying into Kyiv and other places.”
International Pressure on Moscow
Despite the growing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has continued his military campaign. In response to the ongoing violence, Trump suggested that Moscow could face tougher sanctions unless Putin agrees to a ceasefire by August 8.
The situation in Kyiv underscores the increasingly dire nature of the conflict, with no immediate signs of de-escalation. As Ukrainian officials continue to assess the damage, the international community waits for any signs of negotiation or a halt to the aggression that has now stretched for more than three years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
