Ukraine honors day of mourning for the 31 lives lost due to Russian missile and drone attacks
In a tragic turn of events, Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine, was subjected to a drone and missile attack on Thursday, resulting in the death of 31 people, including five children, and injuring over 150, according to official reports.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the youngest victim was just two years old. Sixteen of the injured were children, making this attack particularly devastating for the city's young population.
This attack marks the deadliest on Kyiv since July last year, surpassing the casualty figures from previous aerial assaults. The Russian forces have escalated their attacks on Ukrainian cities in recent months, disregarding calls from Western leaders to cease strikes on civilian areas.
The Oreshnik, Russia's newest hypersonic missiles, have been implicated in these attacks. These missiles, which plunge to their targets at speeds up to Mach 10, are multiple warhead weapons that are reportedly difficult to stop by air defences.
In response to the escalating conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for heavier economic sanctions on Russia to deter the Kremlin. He also urged Putin to accept "a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire."
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha made a similar plea, calling on Putin to end the hostilities. However, Putin has stated that he will only accept a settlement on his terms and will continue fighting until they are met.
The UN Security Council met to discuss the situation and push Putin into accepting a ceasefire. Ukraine called for an urgent UN Security Council meeting to be convened on Friday, following a call from US President Donald Trump for sanctions on Russia.
Despite Trump's deadline for Russia to stop the fighting being reduced to 8 August from 50 days, no reference to next week's deadline was made in Putin's comments regarding the Istanbul talks.
This latest attack on Kyiv is not an isolated incident. Since the start of aerial attacks on Kyiv in October 2022, at least five children have been killed and 16 children injured in the deadliest single attack on Kyiv reported in July 2025. Broader data on recent strikes indicates at least 12 children killed and 159 injured, though exact numbers since October 2022 are not explicitly confirmed beyond official figures cited for particular attacks.
Russian forces are pressing on with their grinding war of attrition along the 1,000-kilometer front line, causing ongoing suffering and loss of life among the civilian population. The international community continues to urge Putin to cease fire and negotiate a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
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- The attack on Kyiv, causing numerous casualties among civilians, including children, is a concerning topic within the realm of general news, war-and-conflicts, and crime-and-justice, as it involves acts of violence against innocent people.
- The international political landscape is heavily influenced by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with Western leaders calling for economic sanctions against Russia and the UN Security Council urging Putin for a ceasefire, making it a central issue in both national and global politics.
