Russia has struck the British Council building in Kyiv as Vladimir Putin blitzed the city with hypersonic missiles and drones in an attack that has killed at least 14 people.
A video clip shows how a missile was fired into the building, located on Zhylyanska St, this morning at 5:40. After the first missile, a second followed just 20 seconds later.
Shards of glass from the building’s shattered windows were seen scattered on the street.
Vladimir Putin launched 629 drones and missiles on the Ukrainian capital, the second-highest figure of the entire war, even as he talks about ending the war and despite US President Donald Trump’s push for a ceasefire.
At dawn, residents and emergency workers were clearing debris from streets covered with broken glass and rubble. An AFP journalist at the scene said one strike in central Kyiv had left devastation behind.
Images posted by Zelensky showed a five-storey crater blasted into an apartment block, splitting the building in two. Windows of nearby homes and small businesses were shattered.
Meanwhile, local media reported that Ukraine also targeted the Novokuibyshevsk refinery in Russia’s Samara Oblast and the Afipsky refinery in Krasnodar Krai in a clear display that the war shows no signs of ending.
In the attacks on Kyiv, mattresses dangled from crumpled balconies, blown open by the impact.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said: ‘Russia chooses ballistics instead of the negotiating table.
‘It chooses to continue killing instead of ending the war,’ he wrote on social media. This means that Russia still does not fear the consequences.’
Zelensky called for a strong response from Ukraine’s allies, including more sanctions. He also urged China and Hungary to take a tougher stance against Moscow.
‘All deadlines have already been broken, dozens of opportunities for diplomacy ruined. Russia must feel accountable for every strike, for every day of this war,’ he said.
Kyiv was well protected from Russian air attacks early in the war, but in recent months it has faced multiple deadly strikes as Moscow fires record numbers of missiles and drones.
Last month, the city suffered one of its worst attacks when more than 30 people were killed, including five children.
Among Thursday’s victims was a 14-year-old girl, Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, said.
He added that Moscow had fired ballistic and cruise missiles along with Iranian-designed Shahed drones from different directions to ‘systematically’ target homes.
Russia’s Novokuibyshevsk facility, situated 560 miles from the Ukrainian border, paused production early in August after it was damaged by a strike.
Telegram channels in Russia posted pictures and videos of massive fires on the premises of the facility, according to Kyiv Independent.
Red tracer bullets lit up the night sky as air defences tried to shoot down drones over the city centre, an AFP journalist said.
During the attack, people sheltered in subway stations, some lying in sleeping bags and others holding their pets.
A five-storey building in the Darnytsky district collapsed, and a city centre shopping mall was also hit, mayor Vitaly Klitschko said.
The strikes came a day after the Kremlin dismissed the chances of a quick meeting between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Kyiv says such a summit is key to breaking the deadlock over how to end the war.
Moscow wants Kyiv to give up more land and drop Western military support as preconditions for a deal. Kyiv has ruled that out.
On Wednesday, Putin’s spokesman said Russia viewed the idea of a European peacekeeping force ‘negatively’. Kyiv says this is vital to stop another Russian attack.
Putin has rejected repeated calls for a ceasefire from Zelensky, Trump and European leaders. Ukraine says Russia only pretends it wants to stop the war.
Russian forces have been slowly gaining ground on the battlefield, where they have more troops and weapons.
Before signing any peace agreement, Ukraine wants Western security guarantees to stop future Russian attacks. Moscow opposes this.
Zelensky’s top aides will meet Trump’s team in New York on Friday to push for strong US support.