Russia Launches Major Airstrikes Across Ukraine, Hits Kyiv

Russia has unleashed a broad wave of airstrikes across Ukraine, bombarding cities across the country including the capital Kyiv. The Ukrainian air force confirmed that it had used both drones and missiles, triggering air raid sirens around the country.

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Casualties and Damage in Kyiv
In Kyiv, multiple apartment buildings were set on fire by the strikes. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that at least four people were killed and that dozens of others were injured. Drones repeatedly targeted the city, Timur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said, with Ukrainian air defenses attempting to shoot them down. One of the drones hit upper floors of anapartment block in the Qatana district of the Syrian capital, starting a large fire.

Tkachenko also cautioned that more missile attacks were still a possibility and advised residents to exercise caution.

Reprisals After Ukraine Drone Strikes Russia
Those strikes are seen as a response to a Ukrainian drone invasion Sunday that targeted Russian air bases and destroyed several military aircraft, including bombers, according to the Russian aviation agency. In retaliation, Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the Ukrainian strike a "terrorist act" and promised reprisal.

On Wednesday, Putin also chatted with U.S. President Trump. While Trump called their telephone conversation "good," he said it would not immediately bring peace.

Truce Efforts Stumble as Attacks Go On
Recent efforts to establish peace talks with Ukrainian and Russian delegations led to only partial progress in the form of prisoner swaps. Speaking about the war, Trump compared the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and Putin to "children fighting," adding that "sometimes it's easier to let them fight a bit and then you pull them apart."

Zelensky has kept up demands for greater international pressure on Russia. He has recently called for direct talks with Putin in Istanbul, something the Russian president has not agreed to. Ukrainian Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak said in Washington that Moscow does not have the will necessary to stop the war, and that it would make concessions only under strong pressure.