In brief
Late last night, Russian forces unleashed a swarm of missiles and drones targeting Kyiv, resulting in 12 deaths and 20 injuries – six of whom were railway workers at a depot in the city. Russian defence officials justify the attack as aimed at Ukraine’s military and energy infrastructure, though Kyiv’s government accuses Moscow of targeting civilians. Amid escalating violence and a growing humanitarian toll, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a speech in Kyrgyzstan, calling for Putin to end the war and urging a return to peace. Ukraine’s President Zelensky reports that 350 rescue teams have worked through the night amid ongoing strikes that have already hit multiple districts, the town of Boryspil, and even the Russian port of Ust‑Luga, illustrating a broader strategy to erode civil morale.
The night‑time assault on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv left at least twelve people dead and twenty injured.
Among those killed, six were railway workers employed by the state company Ukrzaliznytsia, whose depot the raid hit.
Two children also suffered injuries. The strike was part of a series of drone and missile attacks that have intensified over the past week, with Russian forces claiming they bombed only military and energy facilities.
Moscow’s defence officials billed the hits as a “massive strike using high‑precision weapons” targeting strategic sites.
One casualty was registered in Ukraine’s western Belgorod region, a reminder of the reciprocal killings that have been occurring along the border.
In a speech held at a security summit in Kyrgyzstan, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin to abandon what he called an “endless war” and seek a diplomatic end.
Modi, whose domestic oil supply heavily depends on discounted oil from Moscow, has repeatedly requested a ceasefire since the February 2022 invasion.
The bombardment also led to three fires across Kyiv’s districts, while the town of Boryspil suffered a residential building hit that claimed four lives.
The Ukrainian Interior Minister Ivan Vyhivsky has confirmed the death of a 26‑year‑old Indian national in Boryspil.
President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that nearly 350 rescue teams, including soldiers and civilians, had worked through the night to aid victims.
He noted that Russia had launched a “significant number of jet drones and ballistic missiles” in an effort to exhaust Ukraine’s air defences and lower civilian morale.
Additional strikes hit eight other Ukrainian regions, while a drone attack on the Russian port of Ust‑Luga triggered a fire.
Ukrainian officials claim the port, which handles millions of tonnes of petroleum each year, is a legitimate target for interfering with Russia’s war efforts.
Read more on the surge of attacks and international responses
