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Russia Pounds Ukraine Govt HQ With 800 Drones, Missiles; Europe Says Putin Unserious About Peace

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Russia’s biggest drone attack on Kyiv killed three, including a baby. Ukraine struck back; Zelenskyy and EU leaders condemned Russia.

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Smoke rises over the government headquarters in Kyiv, following Russian drone and missile strikes on September 7, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (AFP)

Smoke rises over the government headquarters in Kyiv, following Russian drone and missile strikes on September 7, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (AFP)

Russia attacked Kyiv’s Pecherskyi district, with 805 drones and decoys overnight on Sunday, the largest such attack since the full-scale invasion, Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Air Force, said.

A fire also erupted on the top of an administrative building. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said on Facebook that this was “for the first time, the Government building, roof and upper floors have been damaged due to an enemy attack.”

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An infant was among three people killed in Russian overnight strikes in Kyiv. 18 people were also injured in the attack, and several buildings were set on fire in the capital city, including the seat of the government, Ukrainian officials said.

State emergency officials said that a fire broke out on two of the four stories of a residential building in the district attacked by Russia.

The government building went up in flames after an assault that began with drones and was followed by missile strikes, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. In the western Sviatoshynskyi district, parts of several floors of a nine-story building were destroyed, while falling drone debris ignited fires in a 16-story high-rise and two other nine-story buildings, officials said.

Dozens of blasts hit the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk, knocking out power in some areas, Mayor Vitalii Maletskyi said on Telegram. In the same region, Russian strikes on Kryvyi Rih damaged transport and city infrastructure, according to local military head Oleksandr Vilkul, but no one was hurt.

Ukraine Retaliates

According to a statement from the Air Force, Ukraine shot down and neutralised 747 drones and four missiles.

Ukraine also hit back and attacked the Druzhba oil pipeline in Russia’s Bryansk region, inflicting “comprehensive fire damage”, the commander of its drone forces, Robert Brovdi, said, Reuters reported.

Zelenskyy Reacts

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia fired over 800 drones and 13 missiles.

“Since last night, work has been ongoing to eliminate the consequences of Russian strikes – more than 800 drones, 13 missiles, including 4 ballistic. According to preliminary information, several drones crossed the border of Ukraine and Belarus,” he posted on X, giving details of the damage suffered in the overnight strikes.

‘Killing Must End’: EU Chief

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen criticised Russia’s latest massive drone and missile strikes on Ukraine, accusing the Kremlin of mocking diplomacy and international law. She further reaffirmed the EU’s unwavering support for Kyiv.

“Once again, the Kremlin is mocking diplomacy, trampling international law and killing indiscriminately. Europe stands, and will continue to stand, fully behind Ukraine. We are reinforcing Ukraine’s armed forces, building lasting security guarantees, and tightening sanctions to increase pressure on Russia. The killing must end,” Ursula wrote on X.

‘Putin Not Serious About Peace’: UK PM Starmer

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned Russia’s barrage of air strikes against Ukraine on Sunday, saying they showed that Russian President Vladimir Putin “is not serious about peace”.

“I’m appalled by the latest brutal overnight assault on Kyiv and across Ukraine,” Starmer said in a statement, AFP reported. “These cowardly strikes show that Putin believes he can act with impunity. He is not serious about peace.”

‘Russia Sinking Deeper Into War, Terror’: Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron also denounced Russia’s overnight barrage of drones and missiles on Ukraine, pledging continued support for Kyiv and stressing the need for a just and lasting peace.

“My thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Together with Ukraine and our partners, we stand for peace. Russia, meanwhile, is locking itself ever deeper into the logic of war and terror. By Ukraine’s side, we will continue to do everything to ensure that a just and lasting peace prevails,” Macron wrote on X.

News world Russia Pounds Ukraine Govt HQ With 800 Drones, Missiles; Europe Says Putin Unserious About Peace
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