Ukraine: 8 dead as Russian strikes pound Kyiv

At least eight people, including a 12-year-old girl, were killed after a Russian missile slammed into a Kyiv apartment block on Thursday morning, authorities said, as Ukrainian cities came under aerial attack for the third day in a row.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the building had been virtually destroyed, and 20 people remain missing. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said more than 30 people were injured in the nine-story building.

Across Ukraine, Zelenskyy said that 180 structures were damaged in the Russian strikes, with 50 of the targets residential apartment blocks. Dozens of people were injured in strikes across the capital.

Strikes on the northeastern city of Kharkiv injured 28 people, and two people were injured in strikes on the Black Sea port city of Odesa, he added.

Russia's biggest attacks since full-scale invasion

The Ukrainian cities of Kremenchuk, Bila Tserkva and Sumy were also targeted on Thursday, officials said.

"We are now experiencing the largest strikes since the start of the full-scale invasion," air force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat told Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne.

Russia has unleased massive strikes across Ukraine for the third day in a row, shortly after fighting had cooled down during a three-day ceasefire marking the end of World War II. Kyiv had offered to extend the ceasefire, which Russia rejected.

On Wednesday, Russia launched more than 800 drones at Ukraine, killing at least six people and injuring dozens. It was described as one of their heaviest and longest attacks of the war.

Zelenskyy said more than 1,560 Russian drones have been fired against Ukrainian population centers since Wednesday. Although air defenses are being stretched, he said the interception rate of drones and missiles was over 93%.

Ukraine asks US, China to push Putin

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the increased Russian attacks coming alongside Trump meeting with China's Xi Jinping in Beijing were a signal that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is not interested in ending the war, despite hopes for a ceasefire. 

Zelenskyy had hoped Trump would bring up the Ukraine war in talks with Xi, as China provides a critical economic lifeline for a sanctions-isolated Russia.

"At the very time when leaders of the most powerful countries are meeting in Beijing, and the world hopes for peace, predictability and cooperation, Putin launched hundreds of drones, ballistic and cruise missiles at the capital of Ukraine," Sybiha wrote on X.

"I am certain that the leaders of the United States and China have enough leverage over Moscow to tell Putin to finally end the war," he added.

In a turnaround for Hungary, the country's new foreign minister, Anita Orban, said Budapest strongly condemned the attacks, and that she had summoned the Russian ambassador. 

"We expect [Russia] to cease its aggression against civilians immediately," said Orban, who is of no relation to Hungary's Russia-friendly former PM Viktor Orban.

Why Ukraine may be turning the tide in the war with Russia

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Edited by: Wesley Dockery