Ursula von der Leyen condemned Russia’s deadly Kyiv strike, which destroyed homes, killed civilians and damaged the EU mission office. Ukrainian officials confirmed 19 deaths, including four children, after missiles ripped through a residential block in the Darnytskyi district.
The five-storey building collapsed around 03:00, forcing rescuers to dig through rubble as families desperately searched for survivors. Von der Leyen revealed missiles landed within 50 meters of the EU delegation, damaging its office alongside the nearby British Council.
She described the bombardment as another grim reminder of Russia’s intent to terrorize civilians and undermine peace negotiations with Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded new sanctions, stressing Moscow had chosen ballistics instead of diplomacy in response to peace efforts.
Russian forces fired nearly 600 drones and more than 30 missiles during the assault, the most significant attack on Kyiv this month. Children aged 2, 14 and 17 were among the victims, highlighting the devastating civilian human tragedy behind Kyiv’s smouldering ruins.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused Vladimir Putin of sabotaging peace hopes, echoing EU leaders’ calls for Russia’s action to be deliberate and escalatory. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized Russia’s strikes, mocked diplomatic initiatives and intentionally undermined international calls for ceasefire negotiations.
The UK summoned Russia’s ambassador, while Brussels demanded explanations from Moscow’s envoy following damage to the EU diplomatic office. Meanwhile, energy infrastructure attacks left over 100,000 homes powerless, with another 60,000 suffering outages in central Ukraine’s Vinnytsia region.
European Council President António Costa said he was horrified, pledging solidarity with Ukraine as its people endured relentless assaults. The British Council confirmed its Kyiv office closure after severe damage, affecting cultural programs and local partnerships across the capital.
