Russia has unleashed a massive volley of missiles and drones at Ukrainian cities for the third day in a row, with the latest strikes hitting a Kyiv apartment block, killing eight.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the building had been virtually destroyed, and 20 people remain missing.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko initially 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.
The Ukrainian president said Russia had launched 1,567 drones since the start of Wednesday, in what is believed to be Russia's largest aerial attack since the start of the war over four years ago.
Ukrainian authorities say at least 22 civilians have been killed over the two days.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced a day of mourning in the capital on Friday.
In his nightly address, Zelenskyy said the Kyiv building was struck by a Kh-101 missile which "was manufactured in the second quarter of this year." "This means Russia is still importing the components, resources, and equipment necessary for missile production in circumvention of global sanctions," he said. "Stopping Russia’s sanctions evasion schemes must be a genuine priority for all our partners." 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.
Although air defenses are being stretched, Zelenskyy said the interception rate of drones and missiles was over 93%.
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.
Europeans condemn attacks "These are definitely not the actions of those who believe the war is coming to an end. It is important that partners do not remain silent about this strike," Zelenskyy said.
In a post on X, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday said the attacks make it clear Moscow is "choosing escalation over negotiation." "By bombing civilians, Russia demonstrates less its strength than its weakness: it is running out of solutions on the military front and does not know how to end its war of aggression," said French President Emmanuel Macron.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said the attacks on Kyiv showed that Russia "openly mocks" efforts to end the war.
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 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Edited by: Wesley Dockery Advertisement
