KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched a devastating drone and missile assault on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, on September 7, 2025, marking the most extensive aerial attack since the beginning of the ongoing war. The assault resulted in the loss of four lives, extensive casualties, and significant damage to critical government facilities.

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that out of 810 drones and missiles launched, they successfully intercepted 747 drones and four missiles. However, the scale of the attack represented a marked escalation, particularly due to its focus on the heart of the capital.

According to eyewitness reports and local officials, smoke was seen erupting from the Government Headquarters in Kyiv, and several residential buildings were struck, including a nine-story residential building in Sviatoshynskyi district. The tragedies included the deaths of a mother and her infant child.

In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, stating, These are deliberate crimes that prolong the war, while calling for international support to bolster Ukraine's air defense capabilities. Ukrainian officials are demanding further sanctions against Russia from Western nations, asserting that any comprehensive peace efforts are being stifled by continued aggression.

International leaders voiced their outrage, with French President Emmanuel Macron condemning the attack as indiscriminate and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer labeling the strikes as cowardly. Zelenskyy reported his discussions with Macron regarding bolstering defense measures amidst mounting concerns about ongoing Russian aggression.

In a statement, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko described the attack as an unprecedented strike on a central government building since the start of full-scale invasion, highlighting the need for united global action against the Kremlin.

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that the strikes targeted military infrastructure and logistics facilities, maintaining that they successfully executed military objectives without hitting civilian targets, a directive that contradicts the claims from Ukrainian officials.

The ramifications of this attack may exacerbate ongoing tensions and conversations surrounding peace talks, as both nations mobilize in response to the escalating violence. While Ukraine insists on a commitment to negotiations, Moscow appears firmly entrenched in its military objectives.