Kiev/Brussels (ANSA) – A significant Russian assault on Ukraine occurred overnight, involving a total of 629 drones and missiles, with Kiev also being affected. Ukrainian officials report that the death toll from this extensive attack has risen to 18, including 4 children. The military air force indicated that the assault comprised 598 drones and 31 missiles, targeting 13 locations across Ukraine. This marks the most extensive attack on the Ukrainian capital since July 31, which resulted in over 30 fatalities. The strikes also impacted the building housing the EU delegation in Kiev.
The President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, expressed his horror at the “latest night of deadly Russian missile strikes against Ukraine” and denounced the “deliberate Russian attack” on the EU delegation structure. “The EU – he stated on X – will not be intimidated.” The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, noted that she had spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump following the attack on Kiev.
“Putin must engage in negotiations,” she wrote on X, stressing the importance of “ensuring a just and lasting peace for Ukraine with robust and credible security guarantees that transform the country into a steel porcupine.” “Europe – she continued – will fully contribute. Our Safe Defense tool, for instance, will be vital in bolstering the courageous Ukrainian armed forces.”
The High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, announced that she had summoned the Russian envoy in Brussels to express protest: “No diplomatic mission should ever be a target,” she tweeted. The British government also summoned the Russian ambassador in London in response to the damage inflicted on the British Council’s premises.
Russia persists with its military operations in Ukraine but “expresses its interest in continuing the negotiation process to achieve our goals through political-diplomatic means,” stated the Kremlin, which, despite images showing city damage, claimed to have targeted “military industries and air bases” in Ukraine (August 28).
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