Ukraine is enduring its most intense air assault in two days since the war began, with Russia deploying over 1,500 drones and missiles to strike Kyiv and several cities across the country, killing at least 27 civilians. Ukraine's president stated that this attack reflects Russia's lack of intention to end the war.
Ukrainian authorities revealed that on Wednesday and Thursday (13-14 May), Russia launched the most severe air attack in the four-year conflict's history, deploying over 1,567 lethal drones and dozens of missiles to strike infrastructure and residential areas in multiple regions, resulting in at least 27 deaths and numerous injuries.
The main target of this assault was Kyiv, which was hit by the latest Kh-101 missiles. The explosions caused an entire block of a nine-story residential building to collapse, prompting rescue teams to race against time to search for people trapped under the rubble.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko declared Friday a day of mourning across the capital to honor those who died in the attack, including at least three children killed in residential neighborhoods.
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in a declaration, “This is not the act of those who believe the war is ending,” responding to Russian President Vladimir Putin's earlier claims that the war was nearing its conclusion. Zelensky also revealed that Russian drones deliberately targeted a United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) vehicle in Kherson city, but fortunately, no one was injured.
Beyond Kyiv, other areas suffered severe damage. Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, was attacked, leaving 28 people wounded, including three children. Power outages affected 11 regions, with heavy damage to energy infrastructure. Additionally, ports in Odessa and railway lines were targeted to disrupt supply routes.
The attacks coincided with U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to China to promote peace efforts. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned Russia's actions as an "open mockery" of attempts to end the war, while French President Emmanuel Macron denounced the shelling of civilians as a sign of Russia's weakness and lack of options on the battlefield.
The war in Ukraine, now over four years long, has become Europe’s worst conflict since World War II, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives and displacing millions of people.
/Reuters/ AFP