### Title: Renewed Airstrikes by Russia Leave Kyiv in Ruins and Raise Casualty Counts

### Summary: A recent Russian assault on Kyiv involved a combination of missile and drone strikes, leading to at least 10 fatalities and over 100 injuries. The nighttime attack, the most severe in months, targeted residential buildings and critical infrastructure, prompting urgent rescue efforts as many remain trapped under rubble.

In a shocking escalation, Russia has unleashed a coordinated missile and drone attack on Kyiv, killing at least 10 individuals, including a US citizen, and injuring over 100, according to local authorities. The overnight strikes, recognized as one of the most significant assaults on the Ukrainian capital since the onset of Russia's large-scale invasion, involved 440 drones and 32 missiles, with Ukrainian officials indicating that a drone crashed into an apartment block, decimating dozens of flats.

Initially, officials reported that 15 people had fallen victim to the attack, but the number was later amended to 10, alongside an additional two deaths in the southern port city of Odesa. President Volodymyr Zelensky referred to the assault as "one of the most terrifying strikes," signifying the dire state of affairs in the capital. The Russian Ministry of Defence stated their strikes were aimed at Ukraine's military-industrial complex, insisting that all targets were successfully struck.

The chaos erupted just before midnight and continued into the early morning, prompting residents to seek safety in underground shelters as frantic rescue operations unfolded across 27 locations hit by the strikes. Reports from the scene revealed that a ballistic missile had struck a nine-story apartment building, causing one entrance to cave in, with fears that more residents might be trapped beneath the debris.

Kyiv's Mayor, Vitali Klitschko, indicated that more than 40 apartments were lost in the demolition of the apartment complex. He accused Russia of deploying cluster munitions designed to inflict maximum casualties, further raising the alarm over civilian safety. Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko described the scene as one of horror, with voices of those trapped beneath the rubble echoing through the chaos of rescue work.

Late into the afternoon, rescue operations continued as officials acknowledged the challenges in counting casualties due to the horrific nature of the strikes, where misidentification of body parts initially complicated matters. The airwaves were filled with loud explosions, underscoring the intensity of the conflict, along with sirens that disrupted rescue missions.

In recent weeks, Russia has stepped up its air attacks, employing waves of drones and decoys to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses. In response, Ukraine has launched its own counterattacks amidst stalled negotiations between the two warring sides. Reports surfaced of at least 147 Ukrainian drones being downed over nine Russian regions in the same timeframe, indicating the ferocity of the ongoing conflict.

During this turbulent climate, President Zelensky, who was attending the G7 summit in Canada, condemned the recent strikes as "pure terrorism," accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of escalating the war while the international community remains passive. Despite seeking to galvanize support from the West, Zelensky faced a setback as US President Donald Trump departed the summit early amid the escalating crisis.

Simultaneously, additional drone strikes targeted the southern city of Odesa, leading to two more deaths and 10 injuries, further compounding the sorrowful toll of this ongoing conflict. As the UK and allies plan further sanctions against Russia, the international community grapples with the implications of these violent developments on the future of Ukraine.