European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has condemned Russia’s deadliest attack on Kyiv since July, which killed 17 people, including four children, and damaged the EU’s delegation office in the Ukrainian capital.
A five-storey residential block in the Darnytskyi district collapsed after being struck by a missile in the early hours of Thursday. Ukrainian officials said many of the victims were trapped inside their homes, with rescue workers digging through rubble to search for survivors. Three of the children killed were aged two, 14 and 17.
Von der Leyen described the bombardment as “another grim reminder” of Russia’s intent to terrorise civilians, noting that two missiles landed just 50 metres from the EU delegation. Images shared by EU officials showed shattered windows and ceilings torn down at the mission’s Kyiv office.
The British Council, housed in the same block, also reported severe damage and announced the closure of its office to visitors until further notice.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of “sabotaging hopes of peace,” while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Moscow had made “a deliberate choice to escalate and mock peace efforts.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky echoed the call for tougher sanctions, warning that Russia had chosen “ballistics instead of the negotiating table.”
The Kremlin insisted it remained open to negotiations, but European leaders rejected that claim. “No diplomatic mission should ever be targeted,” an EU spokeswoman said, confirming that Russia’s envoy in Brussels had been summoned. The UK also summoned Russian Ambassador Andrey Kelin in London.
Ukrainian forces reported that Russia launched nearly 600 drones and more than 30 ballistic and cruise missiles in the largest assault on the capital this month. The strikes also knocked out power to more than 100,000 homes on Wednesday, with another 60,000 left without electricity in the central Vinnytsia region.
European Council President António Costa said he was “horrified” by the devastation. Zelensky noted the attack was a response to renewed international calls for a ceasefire and “real diplomacy.”
Von der Leyen announced that the EU was preparing its 19th package of sanctions against Moscow and revealed plans to visit seven EU states bordering Russia and Belarus, starting with Latvia and Finland.
Meanwhile, US efforts to broker peace talks continue. President Donald Trump had proposed a summit between Zelensky and Putin, but the Kremlin has played down the possibility. American officials will meet a Ukrainian delegation in New York on Friday to discuss military, political, and economic security guarantees for Ukraine.
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