Russian strikes kill 18 in Kyiv region on eve of NATO summit

Russia unleashed a barrage of missiles and drones on apartment buildings in Kyiv, killing at least 18 people and wounding around 60. The deadly assault struck on Monday, just hours before a critical NATO summit was set to begin in Ankara.

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It is critically important that the world –- first and foremost the United States and our European partners –- come out of the NATO summit in Ankara with strong decisions in support of our air defense, and thus the protection of ordinary people’s lives.

Authorities reported that the morning strike tore a crater into a multi-story apartment block, ripping its top floors apart. Residents described powerful explosions and a blast wave that shattered windows. One resident recounted surviving with her child by taking shelter on the ground floor, expressing disbelief at the attack occurring so soon after a previous one five days prior.

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powerful hit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky implored the NATO alliance to adopt "strong decisions" regarding enhanced air defense capabilities. He emphasized the critical importance of the United States and European partners supporting Ukraine's air defenses to protect civilian lives. The European Union also acknowledged Ukraine's need for such reinforcements.

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Glass was falling down. There wasn’t a single pane of glass left in the apartment.

This latest attack, which Russia's defense ministry described as a "massive strike," involved hard-to-intercept ballistic missiles. Zelensky stated that Russia fired 68 missiles and 351 attack drones. Officials in a Kyiv suburb reported evacuating residents due to the potential presence of unexploded ordnance in the debris.

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We weren’t expecting this… there was an attack literally five days ago.