In the early hours of Thursday, Ukraine’s capital Kyiv came under intense aerial bombardment for the second night in a row, as Russia intensified its offensive campaign more than three years into the conflict.
Local authorities reported that the assault claimed the lives of at least two people and left over a dozen others injured.
The latest round of attacks saw the deployment of several drones and cruise missiles.
CNN journalists based in Kyiv captured dramatic scenes of massive explosions lighting up the skyline, with thick smoke filling the air and leaving a choking, burnt smell across the city center.
This latest barrage followed what Ukrainian officials described as the largest drone strike since the war began, with 728 drones and 13 missiles fired on Wednesday night, resulting in at least one death.
Thursday’s devastation was widespread, according to city officials. Fires broke out across multiple locations, damaging residential buildings, office complexes, cars, warehouses, and other infrastructure.
A healthcare facility was nearly obliterated in the strikes, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed.
The frequency and scale of Russia’s air raids have grown significantly in recent weeks, with near-nightly attacks pushing the country’s defenses to the limit.
As dawn broke, scenes of civilians taking refuge in Kyiv’s metro stations highlighted the grim reality of war, as people sought safety from the relentless bombardment.
While the violence escalates, diplomatic efforts appear to have stalled, prompting concern from the United States. During a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, President Trump expressed frustration with Russia’s leader.
“We get a lot of bullsh*t thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth,” Trump said. “He’s very nice all of the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”
Despite the inflammatory remarks, Moscow played down the comments. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, in a Wednesday briefing, said, “Trump in general tends to use a fairly tough style and expressions,” adding that Russia remains open to continuing dialogue with Washington.
In a move seen as a shift in approach, the Trump administration pledged more defensive aid to Ukraine, signaling renewed U.S. support amid growing questions about Washington’s long-term stance on the conflict.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is slated to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during the ASEAN summit in Malaysia on Thursday, a development closely watched by global observers.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, responding to the sustained aerial campaign, emphasized Russia’s resistance to peace efforts.
“There had been so many attempts to achieve peace and cease fire, but Russia rejects everything,” he said.
Adding to the pressure on Moscow, the European Court of Human Rights issued a landmark ruling on Wednesday, holding Russia accountable for numerous international law violations in Ukraine.
The court reviewed four cases tied to Russian military actions, covering the broader conflict since 2014, including the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 and concluded that Russia had engaged in a consistent pattern of human rights abuses.
The ECHR directly attributed responsibility for the MH17 tragedy, which claimed 298 lives, to Moscow, an accusation Russian authorities have repeatedly denied.