Kyiv death toll from massive Russian strikes rises to 30

Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, suffered its "most massive attack" by Russia, with the death toll climbing to at least 30 people by Friday. The barrage, which spanned Wednesday and Thursday nights, also wounded 91 people, according to the head of the city's military administration. Residential areas were hit by missiles and drones, leaving apartment blocks partially destroyed and residents sifting through rubble.

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Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure wherever they occur are a clear violation of international humanitarian law and must stop immediately.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, who inspected a damaged apartment building, vowed that Ukraine would retaliate for the attacks. He also urged allies to provide more air defense systems, specifically requesting U.S. licenses to manufacture Patriot missiles. Zelensky emphasized that defending against ballistic missiles is impossible without sufficient Patriot interceptors.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin indicated its intention to further increase "pressure" on Kyiv. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, calling them a violation of international humanitarian law and reiterating his call for a ceasefire. The European Union's top diplomat proposed new sanctions against Moscow.

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We also very much count on a decision by the United States regarding licenses for Patriots.

The strikes also impacted humanitarian efforts, with the Ukrainian branch of the Red Cross reporting the destruction of a key warehouse and the loss of approximately $2 million worth of aid. Debris from the attack also damaged a building housing diplomats, though EU diplomats were reported to be safe. In Kryvyi Rig, two people were injured by a missile strike in a densely populated area.

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Defending against ballistic missiles is impossible without a sufficient number of missiles for Patriot systems.