A deadly Russian attack on Kyiv overnight killed three people including a 14-year-old girl, Ukrainian officials confirmed early Thursday. Mayor Vitali Klitschko described the bombardment as "massive" with at least 24 people injured across the capital.
A five-storey building completely collapsed in the Darnytski district, while fires broke out in a high-rise residential building in the neighbouring Dnipro district. Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said at least five children were among the injured in the latest strikes.
Civilians seek shelter underground
The Guardian reports that around 100 people took shelter in subway stations during the attack, bringing pets and sleeping bags as air defences engaged incoming missiles with visible red tracer bullets lighting up the night sky. More than 20 districts were targeted, with multiple buildings including a kindergarten catching fire.
The attack comes after more than 100,000 Ukrainian homes were left without power from recent Russian drone strikes targeting energy infrastructure. President Volodymyr Zelensky had highlighted this power crisis just Wednesday before the latest bombardment.
Diplomatic efforts continue despite violence
The deadly strikes occurred amid ongoing international efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine. US President Donald Trump launched the latest peace initiative earlier this month, meeting Vladimir Putin in Alaska and Zelensky with European leaders in Washington.
Trump has been pushing for a Putin-Zelensky summit, which Ukraine's president has backed while seeking security guarantees from Western allies. On Tuesday, Zelensky met Britain's armed forces chief Admiral Sir Tony Radakin in Kyiv to discuss efforts to end the war.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said he would meet Ukrainian representatives in New York this week, telling Fox News "we talk to the Russians every day". However, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that handing over Ukrainian territory to Russia as part of any peace deal would be a "trap".
The violence continues three and a half years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with fighting on the ground showing no signs of abating despite diplomatic initiatives.
Sources used: "The Guardian", "BBC", "The Independent" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
