Russia launched a large-scale aerial assault on Ukraine early Monday, striking Kyiv and multiple regions across the country with 450 drones and missiles, according to Ukraine’s air force.
he attacks hit apartment blocks, a supermarket, and a nursery school in the capital, killing two people and injuring at least 15 others, including a 12-year-old boy, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed.
The strikes came days after Zelensky proposed a new round of peace talks and amid international diplomatic efforts to end the three-year-long conflict.
Moscow has yet to respond officially to the latest call for negotiations, or to an ultimatum issued by US President Donald Trump, who reportedly gave Russia 50 days to agree to a deal or face massive sanctions.
Six districts of Kyiv were hit, igniting fires in residential areas and damaging the Lukyanivka metro station, which has served as a shelter during previous attacks.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, visiting the Ukrainian capital, witnessed the destruction first-hand.
“The shelters themselves are no longer entirely safe,” Barrot stated. “This comes even as President Zelensky showed Ukraine’s willingness to enter new negotiations with Russia.”
In addition to Kyiv, strikes were also reported in Ivano-Frankivsk (west), Kharkiv and Sumy (east). A reporter from AFP described shattered glass, debris, and burned buildings strewn across the capital’s streets.
Meanwhile, Kyiv struck back, targeting Moscow with drones, forcing temporary closure of Vnukovo Airport, a key transport hub used by the Russian government.
The Kremlin said it remains open to continued dialogue, but previous demands — including Ukrainian territorial concessions and a rejection of Western military support — have been labeled “unacceptable” by Kyiv.
Last month’s peace talks in Istanbul ended in a stalemate, with no movement toward a ceasefire beyond limited prisoner exchanges.
The European Union, in a show of continued support for Ukraine, approved its 18th sanctions package on Friday, targeting Russian banks and adjusting the oil price cap to increase economic pressure on the Kremlin.
Barrot reiterated that these sanctions are designed to “raise the cost of war” for Russia and bring it back to the negotiating table.
However, Ukrainian officials remain skeptical of Russia’s sincerity, citing continued aggression and lack of compromise.
