Russia launched a large-scale overnight missile and drone assault on Ukraine early Monday, killing at least one person in Kyiv and striking a metro station where hundreds of civilians were sheltering from the bombardment.
The attack caused fires across the capital and left at least six people injured, with emergency workers deployed to multiple districts. Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, confirmed that rescuers and medics were active at the scenes of destruction in four separate areas.
Lukianivska metro station, in central Kyiv, was hit directly, sending thick smoke through the air. The station, often used as a shelter during attacks, lies in a district that has been repeatedly targeted by Russian forces.
“The station’s entrance was damaged as a result of the attack,” said Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration. He added that local shops, businesses, and a kindergarten were also struck during the assault.
Meanwhile, in the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk, far from the frontline, Russia launched what officials described as the most severe attack since President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Several people in nearby villages were injured, and extensive damage was reported.
Further explosions were reported in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, continuing Russia’s intensified aerial campaign in recent months that has seen urban centres bombarded with increasing regularity.
The strikes come just days after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that Kyiv had offered a fresh proposal for peace negotiations with Moscow. Previous rounds of talks, including two held in Istanbul, have failed to achieve a ceasefire, instead resulting only in prisoner exchanges and agreements to repatriate fallen soldiers.
This month, the Kremlin said it remained open to negotiations after US president Donald Trump issued a 50-day ultimatum to Russia to agree to a peace deal or face new sanctions. Despite this, Moscow has shown no signs of softening its demands.
Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Kremlin, stated on Sunday that reaching a peace agreement was “not simple” and reiterated that Russia’s “objectives” must be fulfilled, including territorial expansion and regime change in Kyiv.
In response to Moscow’s continued aggression, the European Union on Friday approved an 18th round of sanctions targeting Russian banks and reducing the price cap on oil exports, aiming to further limit the Kremlin’s ability to fund its war campaign.
