The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, has called for “maximum international pressure” on Russia following a deadly wave of overnight airstrikes that claimed the lives of at least 12 people in Ukraine.
“Last night’s attacks again show Russia bent on more suffering and the annihilation of Ukraine,” Kallas posted on X. “Devastating to see children among innocent victims harmed and killed. My thoughts are with the families today. We need the strongest international pressure on Russia to stop this war.”
Her statement came after Russian forces launched a second consecutive night of drone strikes targeting Kyiv, resulting in multiple casualties and injuries, according to local officials.
“Tragically, three people lost their lives in Kyiv Oblast last night—two in Obukhiv and one in Bucha—while ten others were injured,” said regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk.
In Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city in the northeast, drones hit three separate sites, according to the city’s mayor. Additional airstrikes were also reported in the southern regions of Mykolaiv and Kherson.
From Friday night into Saturday, Russia launched one of the most intense aerial assaults on Kyiv since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, deploying around 250 drones and 14 ballistic missiles. The attacks caused widespread damage to buildings and left at least 14 people injured.
These escalations occur amid a prisoner exchange agreement between Russia and Ukraine. On Saturday, 307 prisoners were exchanged on each side. The process continued on Sunday, completing the third and final phase of a broader deal to release a total of 1,000 prisoners from both countries, reached in Istanbul this month.
