EU, Britain Summon Russian Envoys After Moscow Strikes Kyiv, Hitting European Missions; 18 Killed (Worthy News Radio)

By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

BRUSSELS/KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – The European Union and Britain summoned Russian envoys Thursday after authorities said Russian airstrikes on Kyiv killed at least 18 people and wounded dozens while damaging homes and offices, including buildings housing the EU delegation and the British Council. It was the deadliest night raid on the Ukrainian capital since the Alaska summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald J. Trump.

Kyiv endured a night of terror as Moscow launched hundreds of missiles and drones. Air raid warnings came too late for many.

Authorities said most victims were killed or injured when a five-story residential building in the eastern Darnytskyi district was struck in the middle of the night. The government confirmed that at least four children are among the dead, with many still unaccounted for.

Hundreds of rescuers searched for survivors in the rubble.

Additionally, one person was killed and several were wounded when Russian strikes hit offices near a railway station, including facilities used by the EU delegation and the British Council, officials said.

The council in Ukraine announced on social media that its office was “severely damaged” and would be closed to visitors until further notice. It added that a security guard injured in the strike remains hospitalized.

EU ALSO FURIOUS

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the United Kingdom had summoned Russia’s ambassador to the Foreign Office. The EU made a similar move, summoning the Russian chargé d’affaires in Brussels.

The EU’s executive European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, condemned the attack. “I am outraged by the attack on Kyiv, also hitting our EU office. This was the deadliest drone and missile attack on the capital since July,” she told reporters.

She said she had spoken with the EU’s deputy ambassador in Kyiv and was relieved no staff were harmed. “Last night’s attack struck in close proximity to the diplomatic mission, the representation of our Union. Two missiles hit within 50 meters (164 feet) of the Delegation in 20 seconds,” Von der Leyen confirmed.

“This is another grim reminder of what is at stake. It shows that the Kremlin will stop at nothing to terrorize Ukraine, blindly killing civilians — men, women and children — and even targeting the European Union. This is why we are keeping maximum pressure on Russia.”

French President Emmanuel Macron also voiced outrage, condemning what he called “Russia’s terror and barbarism” after strikes that he said involved “629 Russian missiles and drones.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a phone call that Ankara was ready to help Ukraine and Russia hold high-level talks to end the war.

But with Kyiv in mourning and rescuers still searching for survivors, it remained unclear when, or if, those talks would take place.

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