Moscow [Russia], August 29: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for more sanctions on Moscow on Thursday after a fresh wave of over 600 drones and missiles from Russia left at least 15 dead people dead, including four children and some 50 injured.
It was the heaviest bombardment since the end of July. The deaths were confirmed by the head of Kiev's military administration, Tymur Tkachenko, on Telegram. Authorities reported on the injuries.
The EU delegation and the British Council in Kiev were also damaged.
"Horrific and deliberate killing of civilians. The Russians do not want to end the war, only new strikes," Zelensky posted on the platform X.
The Russian Ministry of Defence, however, claimed that the attacks targeted arms factories and Ukrainian Air Force bases. All targets were hit, it said. 629 Russian drones and missiles in latest attack The latest Russian attack involved 629 drones, missiles and cruise missiles launched since Wednesday evening, the Ukrainian Air Force reported on Thursday.
Ukraine's air defence systems destroyed 589 incoming targets, it said in a statement on its Telegram channel.
Russia also used two Kinzhal (Dagger) hypersonic missiles, nine Iskander ballistic missiles and 20 X-101 cruise missiles, the air force added. There were impacts at 13 locations in the country, and debris from downed weapons fell at 26 sites, it said.
Explosions were also reported from the cities of Sumy in the north, as well as Dnipro and Zaporizhzhya in the south.
Damage to EU delegation, British Council buildings in Kiev The European Union's delegation building was also damaged.
"While the world seeks a path to peace, Russia responds with missiles," the EU's foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, wrote on the platform X. The overnight attack on Kiev show "a deliberate choice to escalate and mock the peace efforts."
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Russia on the platform X of deliberately targeting diplomats.
According to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, all staff are safe.
The editorial office of the popular online newspaper Ukrainska Pravda (Ukrainian Truth) also reported damage to its offices. Videos and photos released by authorities showed severe devastation in a partially collapsed residential building and burnt-out cars.
Zelensky said the Russian drone and missile strikes are Moscow's response to the ceasefire demanded for weeks and months and the calls for genuine diplomacy.
He said Russia exploits the fact that a part of the world turns a blind eye when children are killed.
Noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin starts a multi-day trip to China on Sunday, he urged Beijing to respond to the Russian attacks. He noted that China had repeatedly called for the war not to escalate and for hostilities to cease.
Zelensky also called on Hungary and other nations to break their silence.
The Ukrainian leader added that now is the time for new sanctions against Russia, which he accused of ignoring deadlines and ruining dozens of diplomatic initiatives. Moscow must be held accountable for every strike, he demanded.
Meanwhile, Zelensky sent his chief negotiators to the United States for talks on security guarantees for Ukraine. Presidential Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak and former defence minister Rustem Umerov are scheduled to meet representatives of US President Donald Trump's administration in New York on Friday, Kiev announced. Trump's negotiator Steve Witkoff confirmed the meeting.
"The Russians must see how serious the world is and how severe the consequences for Russia will be if the war continues," Zelensky said in an evening video address.
Source: Qatar Tribune
