Russian forces launched a third consecutive day of massive aerial attacks on Ukraine, destroying an apartment building in Kyiv's Darnytsia district and killing seven people, including a 12-year-old girl, Ukrainian officials said Thursday.
The strikes came as President Donald Trump visited China, where he met with leader Xi Jinping. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the leaders have sufficient leverage to compel Russian President Vladimir Putin to end his four-year invasion of Ukraine.
"At the very time when 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. "Only pressure on Moscow can make him stop."
What the Right Is Saying
Republican voices on foreign policy have offered mixed signals, with some emphasizing the need to pursue direct negotiations while others argue continued support for Ukraine remains strategically vital.
Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has argued that strength through military assistance is necessary before any ceasefire. His office did not immediately comment on Thursday's strikes.
Conservative commentators have noted that the timing of the attacks during Trump's China visit could complicate diplomatic efforts. Some Republican analysts have suggested that sustained Ukrainian battlefield capacity strengthens Kyiv's hand in any future talks, while others argue for prioritizing direct U.S.-Russia engagement to end the conflict.
The attacks also drew criticism from Britain's defense establishment. Defense Secretary John Healey called Thursday's strikes "shocking" and said he had accelerated U.K. deliveries of air defense systems to Ukraine, reflecting a continued commitment among European allies despite uncertainty about American policy direction.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive lawmakers and Democratic allies of Ukraine have pointed to the strikes as evidence that diplomatic efforts require stronger backing for Kyiv.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee who has advocated for sustained military assistance, has not commented directly on Thursday's attack. Her office has previously argued that American support produces measurable results in Ukrainian defense capabilities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy framed the attacks as a test of international resolve. "Only pressure on Moscow can make him stop," Sybiha said of Putin, echoing the administration's position that continued Western aid is essential to any negotiated settlement.
Humanitarian organizations have called for increased civilian protection measures as strikes increasingly target residential areas. The destruction of housing in densely populated neighborhoods raises questions about compliance with laws of armed conflict regarding civilian infrastructure.
What the Numbers Show
Russia launched more than 1,560 drones against Ukrainian population centers since Wednesday, according to Zelenskyy. In all, some 180 sites across the country were damaged, including more than 50 residential buildings, he said.
Ukrainian air defenses shot down or jammed 693 Russian targets overnight, including 41 missiles and 652 drones of various types nationwide, the air force said. Fifteen missiles and 23 drones scored direct hits across 24 locations, with debris from downed drones falling in another 18 locations.
The interception rate for drones and missiles was over 93%, Zelenskyy said. Despite this effectiveness, the volume of attacks overwhelmed some defenses, resulting in civilian casualties and structural damage.
All 18 apartments in the destroyed nine-story building were destroyed, officials said. More than 30 people were injured in that collapse alone, while emergency workers rescued 28 residents. At least 20 people were believed to be missing under the rubble.
Strikes on energy infrastructure left customers in Kyiv and 11 other regions temporarily without power, national grid operator Ukrenergo said. The attacks mark "the largest strikes since the start of the full-scale invasion," according to air force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat.
On Wednesday alone, an attack involving 800 drones struck about 20 regions and killed at least six people in a rare daytime assault on Kyiv.
The Bottom Line
The escalation in Russian attacks comes amid diplomatic efforts that include Trump's ongoing international travels. Ukrainian officials are pressing for increased pressure on Moscow from world leaders with leverage over Putin.
Hungary's government summoned the Russian ambassador over a drone attack near Hungary's border with Ukraine, marking a shift in tone by Prime Minister Péter Magyar toward Moscow after years of close relations under former leader Viktor Orbán. The development suggests some movement even among traditionally Russia-aligned European states.
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina resigned Thursday after her government's coalition partner withdrew support over handling of incidents involving stray drones suspected from Ukraine crossing into Latvian territory, illustrating how the conflict continues to create political reverberations beyond Ukrainian borders.
What happens next: Ukrainian officials are requesting additional air defense systems from Western allies. The scale of Russia's assault tests whether existing defensive capabilities can protect civilian populations under sustained attack. International diplomatic efforts continue amid conflicting signals about prospects for ceasefire or negotiation.