Russian forces unleashed a devastating barrage of over 300 drones and eight missiles targeting Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions overnight on Thursday, killing at least 27 people, including three children, and injuring 159 in one of the deadliest attacks in recent weeks.

Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, confirmed the death toll as of 7:45 a.m. local time, noting that rescue operations, now in their second day, continue amid fears of more victims trapped under rubble. “The worst predictions have been confirmed,” Tkachenko said. Among the deceased was senior police lieutenant Liliia Stepanchuk, a patrol officer killed in the Sviatoshynskyi district, according to Ukraine’s Interior Ministry.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that 12 children were among the injured, marking the highest number of child casualties in Kyiv since Russia’s full-scale invasion began. Three police officers were also wounded, with 30 people, including five children, still hospitalized as of 2:40 p.m. local time. First responders remain at the scenes, battling fires and clearing debris.

The attack struck at least 27 locations across Kyiv, with the Solomianskyi district suffering extensive damage to 101 buildings, including an educational institution and a residential structure. In Sviatoshynskyi, a fire ignited vehicles, and debris hit the ninth floor of a residential building.

President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the assault, which he said targeted multiple Ukrainian regions. In Kyiv, August 1 has been declared a Day of Mourning, with flags at half-mast and all entertainment events canceled.

The attack follows Trump’s ultimatum to Russia, prompting speculation about Moscow’s motives. Meaghan Mobbs, daughter of U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg, wrote on X: “Kyiv is under massive drone attack. This is Putin’s response to President Trump’s deadline. He is testing American resolve.”

As rescue efforts continue, the international community watches closely, with Ukraine bracing for further escalation in the ongoing conflict. (ILKHA)