Russia unleashed one of its most destructive aerial assaults on Kyiv, striking the city with a barrage of drones and missiles that left at least 14 people dead, among them several children, and dozens more injured.

Early Thursday the attack involved an extraordinary 629 missiles and drones, of which Ukrainian air defences intercepted 589.

Despite substantial interception, a deadly toll remained, including three children, and at least 38 people were wounded.

The attack damaged residential buildings and even reached the European Union delegation’s building, though EU staff were unharmed.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the assault as a “horrific and deliberate killing of civilians,” calling on the international community to impose tougher sanctions on Russia

At least 14 people, including three children, with over 20 injured. The destruction spread across Kyiv's Darnytskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, and Solomyanskyi districts, affecting homes, schools, offices, and kindergartens. President Zelensky descried it as a rejection of diplomacy and urged the world to respond firmly.

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The attack was described as “massive,” noting 12 fatalities, including three children aged 2, 14, and 17, and at least 45 injuries.

President Zelensky accused Russia of choosing violence over dialogue and demanded that China, among others, uphold its calls for peace with “principled action”

Almost 100 buildings were damaged, including a shopping mall and the EU’s mission in Kyiv.

Western leaders, including France’s Macron, strongly condemned the assault; President Zelensky called for a stronger international response and more severe sanctions.

Eyewitness accounts and government officials described terrifying scenes: night skies lit by explosions, buildings collapsing, and emergency crews still searching for the missing among the rubble.

Zelensky's message was clear; Russia has escalated its attack on civilians at a time when peace negotiations remain stalled.

The coordinated drone-and-missile offensive represents a chilling reminder of the war’s devastating trajectory and the urgent need for robust global action.