In a dramatic escalation following the recent meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, Russia launched a massive missile and drone strike on Ukraine’s capital, Kiev, targeting high-profile locations including a European Union (EU) building, a bank, and the British Council office.
According to Ukrainian officials, 15 people were killed and 38 injured in Thursday’s (August 28, 2025) strikes, carried out with Kinzhal and Iskander hypersonic missiles along with drone swarms. One of the blasts occurred near the Azerbaijani Embassy, raising concerns of further diplomatic fallout.
Ukraine Strikes Back
In retaliation, Ukraine claimed to have attacked a Russian warship in the Azov Sea near Crimea, striking a missile corvette with a combat drone.
Buildings Reduced to Debris
CCTV footage shows entire buildings in Kiev engulfed in fireballs within seconds of impact. Apart from the capital, Russia also struck:
-
Power plants in Vinnytsia
-
Targets in Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the strikes, noting that three children were among the dead.
“These attacks prove Russia has no intention of ending this war,” Zelensky declared, urging for tougher sanctions on Moscow.
Global Condemnation
-
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused Putin of targeting civilians after the strike on the British Council building, calling the assault “bloodshed that must end.”
-
French President Emmanuel Macron claimed Russia launched 629 missiles and drones in one night, condemning the strike on the EU-linked building as a direct assault on Europe’s values.
-
EU Vice President Kaja Kallas warned, “While the world seeks peace, Russia responds with missiles.”
Moscow has yet to issue an official statement on the latest strikes.
No Peace in Sight
The bombardment comes barely two weeks after the Putin-Trump meeting in Alaska, which raised hopes for dialogue. Though European leaders later joined Trump at the White House to discuss peace efforts, no direct talks between Putin and Zelensky have been scheduled.
With the scale of destruction rising and civilian casualties mounting, experts fear Russia’s latest offensive signals a long, bloody chapter ahead for Ukraine and Europe.
also read – India-China Thaw After Trump’s Tariff Shock: PM Modi to Visit Beijing for First Time Since Clash