Overnight Wednesday (local time), Russian strikes on Kyiv killed 30 people and injured more than 90.
Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko said it was a “massive enemy attack” on the city, and declared a day of mourning.
A spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters Russia will “continue to increase pressure on the Kyiv regime”.
EU leaders have since proposed more sanctions on Russia.
Here’s what you need to know.
Background
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. UN data shows almost 16,000 civilians have been killed since then.Neither side releases data on the number of soldiers killed.
Russia also controls at least one-fifth of Ukrainian territory.
Last month, experts said the conflict entered a “new phase,” with Russian authorities reporting Ukraine killed 21 people at a college in Russian occupied-territory.
Russia responded with strikes on Kyiv that killed at least 22 people.
Strikes
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported Russian forces attackedKyiv on Wednesday night (local time) killing 30 people and injuring 91.
Your contribution ensures The Daily Aus can continue doing the work you love.
I want to give $10 monthly to help TDA keep doing the news.
Your details:
The Ukrainian Air Force said Russia used 570 air attack assets, largely drones.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said an ambulance station, science research centre, and hotel were among the sites damaged.
Ukraine’s largest private energy company DTEK also reported damage.
“It was a terrible night for Kyiv. The enemy’s most massive attack – the capital was hit with ballistics, cruise missiles, and UAVs," Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko in a social media post. “UAV” is another word for drone.
Russia
Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told press on Thursday: “The strikes were exclusively directed at military or near military facilities”.
He said there is “no doubt that escalation from Europe is indeed happening,” saying that the EU has “embarked on a path of militarisation” and “committed itself to confrontation with the Russian Federation.”
“Russia will continue to increase pressure on the Kyiv regime in order to achieve our set goals,” Peskov said.
EU
On Thursday (local time) European Union HighRepresentative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said: “Words of condemnation alone will not stop attacks on Kyiv.”
Kallas said she will propose sanctions on “entities supporting Russia’s military-industrial complex in response to the strikes.”
“The more Moscow attacks civilians, the more sanctions must be imposed,” she said, adding the EU will “keep raising the cost until Russia understands it cannot win.”
