Kyiv is sinking into sorrow after one of the deadliest air attacks. A day of mourning has been declared in the city in memory of at least 23 victims, including four children, who died in the second largest air attack since the beginning of the war. At the site of the tragedy, in front of the ruins of the five-story residential building, the atmosphere is heavy, filled with grief and determination. Teams of rescuers and volunteers continue to tirelessly search the rubble in a desperate race against time, looking for survivors.
The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, announced the day of mourning, emphasizing the need to honor the memory of the deceased. In the destroyed building, the bodies of 22 of the 23 victims have been found, which turns the apartment block into the epicenter of the greatest horror the city has experienced.
The international community has strongly condemned the barbaric act. The White House announced that President Donald Trump was "unhappy", but not "surprised", by what was happening. The message alludes to the growing tension and predictability of such acts of violence. At the same time, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, issued a strong statement in which she accused Russia of "stopping at nothing to terrorize Ukraine". Her words underscore the systematic and ruthless nature of the attacks, which are clearly not targeting only military objectives, but also the civilian population. Such actions raise serious questions about the Russian armed forces' compliance with international humanitarian law and highlight the lack of ethics in their military actions.
In response to the escalating aggression, the defense ministers of the European Union are meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Friday to discuss military support for Ukraine. This meeting, held against the backdrop of another ruthless strike, adds additional weight and urgency to the debates. The decisions that will be made are expected to be aimed at strengthening Ukraine's defensive capabilities and sending a clear message to the aggressor that the international community is united in its support for Ukrainian sovereignty.