The nighttime attack struck a busy building in the city center. Besides the fifteen deaths, more than thirty people with injuries were taken to hospitals. Emergency services worked for hours under difficult conditions to rescue survivors from the rubble. The explosion destroyed multiple floors and caused intense fires, while surrounding residential blocks suffered heavy damage.
According to Ukrainian authorities, dozens of rockets and drones were fired at different parts of the country, with Kyiv being heavily hit. The target appeared not only military but primarily civilian. Residents describe how windows and walls collapsed and many families had to flee their homes in haste. The attack reinforced the feeling that the capital is under permanent threat.
European leaders responded with shock and sharply condemned the attack. They emphasized that this was not an isolated incident but part of a broader strategy of terror against civilians.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called it a brutal act showing that Russia deliberately targets civilian objectives. She declared that Europe will not be intimidated by this and that support for Ukraine will continue unabated. According to her, the European response is clear: maintain solidarity and increase political and economic pressure on Moscow.
Strong words also came from London. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pointed out that the attack hit a building that also houses British representation and called it a flagrant violation of international law. He stressed that the United Kingdom will not back down and will further support Ukraine, both militarily and diplomatically.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the attack is proof of Russian contempt for the peace process. According to him, this was no mistake but a deliberate action against civilian targets in Kyiv. He called on the world to realize that as long as Russia continues unpunished, the chances for peace diminish further and pressure on Moscow must be increased.
Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin still rejects proposals for direct talks. Both Ukrainian and American initiatives to negotiate a ceasefire are systematically refused. Thus the door to diplomatic discussions remains closed, and a shift toward peace talks seems further away than ever.
The attack in Kyiv has reignited discussion in Europe about support for Ukraine. Several countries state that this incident shows Russia is not trustworthy and that further military and humanitarian aid remains necessary. At the same time, calls grow to isolate Russia more heavily internationally, so that pressure to halt its aggression steadily increases.