US President Donald Trump has warned of fresh sanctions against Russia following Moscow’s largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the war began, which killed at least four people and set parts of Kyiv’s government complex ablaze.
The overnight barrage saw more than 800 drones and 13 missiles launched across Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian air force. Flames engulfed the roof of the government building that houses Ukraine’s cabinet of ministers — the first time the landmark structure has been hit in the three-and-a-half-year conflict.
Emergency services confirmed extensive damage to high-rise buildings in Kyiv, while prosecutors reported additional deaths and dozens of injuries across the east and southeast. Among the wounded was a 24-year-old pregnant woman who gave birth prematurely after the attack, with doctors fighting to save her and her baby.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for a “strong” US response, saying Russia was “testing the world.” He also spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron, who pledged support to strengthen Ukraine’s defence. Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen condemned the strikes, describing them as acts of “war and terror.”
Russia’s defence ministry denied targeting civilians, insisting it struck only military-related facilities, including a plant and logistics hub in Kyiv.
Trump, reacting to the assault, told reporters he was “not happy with the whole situation” and signaled readiness to expand sanctions. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington could impose tariffs on countries buying Russian oil, warning of an “economic collapse” in Moscow.
The attack comes weeks after Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15 failed to secure a ceasefire. Since then, Russia has intensified its campaign, continuing to seize territory in grinding battles.
Ukraine has demanded stronger Western security guarantees and has welcomed pledges from more than two dozen European countries to oversee any future peace deal, with some even considering troop deployments — a prospect the Kremlin has branded unacceptable.
With Russia now occupying roughly 20 percent of Ukraine and the war showing no sign of easing, the conflict has become Europe’s deadliest since World War II, displacing millions and leaving tens of thousands dead.
