Kiev, Ukraine
CNN
–
Russia launched a massive air attack on Ukrainian capital Kiev early on Thursday, marking the second consecutive night of ferocious attacks on the country as Russia increased its bombings in the war for more than three years.
At least two people have been killed and more than a dozen were injured in the attack, Kyiv authorities said.
According to Kyiv’s CNN staff, who filmed the strike, a massive, fiery explosion illuminated the night sky. Smoke filled the air, creating a burning smell, obscuring the views of the city centre.
According to Ukrainian officials, the attack will be one night after Russia fired 13 missiles on a strike that launched 728 drones and 13 missiles since the start of a full-scale invasion.
The damage on Thursday morning looked quite significant.
City officials said homes, homes, cars, warehouse facilities, warehouse facilities, offices and other buildings were damaged and caused a fire. Healthcare clinics have been almost completely destroyed on strike, mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko I said.
Russia has significantly expanded its air attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks, launching close range attacks, including hundreds of drones and missiles.
Efforts for a peace deal were slowing at the same time, causing frustration in the White House, with the US president on Tuesday targeting Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
“If we want to know the truth, we’re throwing lots of burs* at Putin,” Trump told the cabinet meeting. “He’s always so lovely, but it turns out to be pointless.”
As the Trump administration pledged to send additional defensive weapons to Kiev in an apparent return to policy, Russia’s sustained attacks inject new urgency into questions surrounding Washington’s commitment to defending Ukraine.
Moscow downplayed Trump’s harsh words at a press conference Wednesday. A Kremlin spokesman said he was responding “serenely” to Trump’s criticism of Putin. “Trump generally tends to use rather tough style and expression,” Dmitry Peskov said, adding that Moscow wants to continue his dialogue with Washington.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to meet Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of Malaysia’s ASEAN summit on Thursday.
Following the record-breaking drone attack on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymeazelensky said “There have been so many attempts to achieve peace and stop the fire, but Russia has rejected everything.”
Thursday’s attack on Kiev followed a landmark ruling by the top European courts of top human rights on Wednesday, revealing that Russia has committed major international law violations in Ukraine.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled four lawsuits in relation to Russian military operations in Ukraine since 2022, as well as the conflict in eastern Ukraine that began in 2014, including the collapse of MH17’s Malaysia Airlines flight.
It has been discovered that Russia has committed a pattern of human rights abuses in Ukraine since the start of a full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The ECHR also ruled that Russia was responsible for the collapse of the 2014 flight MH17. Moscow repeatedly denied responsibility for the destruction of MH17, killing 298 people.
