Kyiv woke up to yet another night of terror as Russian missiles and drones rained down on the capital, leaving at least 18 people dead and dozens injured.
Among the targets were two high-profile international sites — the British Council building and the European Union’s mission headquarters.
The strikes happened around dawn, with dramatic footage capturing the first explosion at 5:40 a.m., followed by a second just 20 seconds later.
The double-hit left the British Council site heavily damaged, and many now say it was only sheer luck that British nationals working there weren’t killed — the building opens at 9 a.m., just hours after the attack.
The British Council in Russia’s Crosshairs
For years, Moscow has had a hostile relationship with the British Council.
Founded to promote cultural and educational exchange, the organisation has been accused by Russia of being a cover for espionage.
Back in 2007, the Kremlin shut down its branches in St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg, and staff faced harassment and even arrests.
By 2018, the council was banned entirely in Russia, and this year it was labelled an “undesirable organisation.”
Now, with the Kyiv strike, that long-standing feud has spilled over into Ukraine.
A security guard was injured in the blast, but the real danger was to the many British teachers and staff who would have been present later in the morning.
The EU Also in Moscow’s Line of Fire
The European Union’s delegation in Kyiv wasn’t spared either.
The building housing its offices was hit, prompting EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to condemn the attack as a “deliberate strike.”
She accused Moscow of “targeting the EU” itself.
Brussels has since summoned Russia’s envoy, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stressing that diplomatic missions should never be considered legitimate targets.
She warned that the Kremlin is showing it will stop at nothing to terrorise civilians and institutions alike.
Starmer and Zelensky Blast Putin
The attacks sparked immediate political outrage.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer denounced Vladimir Putin for “sabotaging peace” and accused him of killing children and civilians with no regard for human life.
“This bloodshed must end,” he declared.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky echoed those sentiments, calling the strikes “horrific and deliberate killings of civilians.”
He urged Western allies to step up sanctions, provide more weapons, and pressure countries like China and Hungary to take a tougher stance against Moscow.
A Night of Record-Breaking Destruction
Across Ukraine, the scale of the bombardment was staggering.
Russia launched 629 drones and missiles in a single wave — the second-highest count since the war began.
Apartment blocks were torn apart, cars crushed under rubble, and families forced to huddle in subway stations with their pets as air raid sirens wailed.
In Kyiv, a five-storey apartment block was split in two by a massive crater.
Rescue crews carried victims in body bags while others dug through the ruins, hoping to find survivors.
Among the dead was a 14-year-old girl. One survivor told reporters that if he had reached the shelter a minute later, he would not be alive.
Moscow’s Mixed Signals on Negotiations
Despite the carnage, the Kremlin insists it is still open to negotiations.
Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia is “interested in political and diplomatic means” but claimed that the strikes will continue because the armed forces are “fulfilling their tasks.”
Kyiv, however, dismisses this as a façade.
Zelensky argues that Russia has chosen “ballistics instead of the negotiating table,” and that Moscow only pretends it wants peace while ramping up its attacks.
Calls for Stronger Western Response
Western leaders have been quick to condemn the strikes, but Kyiv says words alone aren’t enough.
Ukraine is pressing for tougher sanctions, more advanced weapons, and stronger security guarantees before any future peace agreement.
Officials are also pushing for the deployment of a European peacekeeping force, something Russia has already rejected outright.
In the meantime, Zelensky’s aides are preparing to meet with Donald Trump’s team in New York to lobby for continued U.S. support.
With Moscow showing no signs of slowing down and Ukraine refusing to concede territory, the war seems locked in a brutal stalemate.
What Comes Next?
The attacks on Kyiv highlight once again that Russia is willing to strike not only military targets but also international institutions and civilians, raising the stakes in the conflict.
For many, the message is clear: Moscow is trying to crush Ukraine’s spirit while daring the West to escalate its support.
As debris is cleared from Kyiv’s streets and families mourn their loved ones, the pressing question remains — how much longer can this war drag on before diplomacy finally forces its way back to the table?
