Ukraine and Russia have vowed to intensify military operations after one of the deadliest attacks on Kyiv in recent months left at least 27 people dead and caused widespread destruction across the Ukrainian capital.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pledged that his country would "definitely" respond to the overnight missile and drone barrage as he visited the site of a heavily damaged apartment building. The attack tore through residential areas, forcing tens of thousands of people to seek shelter.
In Moscow, the Kremlin said it would continue increasing military pressure on Ukraine, signalling that the conflict is set to escalate further. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko described the assault as the largest attack on the capital since the war began.
Following the strike, Zelenskyy urged Ukraine's allies to provide additional air defence systems and called on the United States to grant licences allowing Ukraine to manufacture Patriot air defence missiles domestically. He described strengthening the country's air defences as an "absolute and critical priority."
The attack also drew international condemnation. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she would propose additional sanctions against Russia, while United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Russia reported fresh Ukrainian strikes on the city of Belgorod and nearby areas. Russian officials said an industrial facility caught fire, energy infrastructure was damaged, and gas and water supplies were disrupted. Authorities also reported that one woman was killed during the attack.
In Washington, a US official said President Donald Trump remains committed to pursuing a peace agreement, saying he "wants this war settled so the senseless killing ends." Trump is expected to attend next week's NATO summit in Ankara, where Zelenskyy hopes to meet him to discuss accelerating military support for Ukraine.
The Russian assault also dealt a heavy blow to humanitarian and cultural institutions. Ukrainian publisher BookChef said around 800,000 books were destroyed after one of its warehouses was struck, while the Ukrainian Red Cross reported the loss of a key warehouse containing approximately $2 million worth of humanitarian aid.
Elsewhere, German prosecutors have accused Ukrainian state authorities of ordering the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, a claim that could strain relations between Kyiv and one of its strongest European allies. Zelenskyy said he had not yet received full details of the case and declined to comment further.
Fighting continued across both countries overnight. Ukrainian officials said two people were killed in Russia's latest attacks on the Sumy region, while seven others were injured in a missile strike on Kryvyi Rih. Earlier attacks also killed three civilians in eastern Ukraine.
The conflict has also taken another international turn after authorities in Monaco identified a suspect in the parcel bombing that seriously injured a sanctioned Ukraine-born businessman and two others. Prosecutors have issued an international arrest warrant as the investigation continues.
With both Kyiv and Moscow promising further military action, hopes for an immediate ceasefire remain uncertain despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
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