The death toll from Russia’s most severe airstrike on Ukraine’s capital this year climbed to 31 on Friday as rescue workers retrieved more bodies from the wreckage of a destroyed apartment building in Kyiv. Among the victims were five children, including a two-year-old, following Thursday’s missile and drone assault, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed, marking the end of rescue efforts. The attacks injured 159 people after Russia fired over 300 drones and eight missiles early on Thursday.
The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, condemned the assault as “inhumane” and shared an image of the EU flag lowered in mourning. “Strengthening Ukraine’s defensive capabilities and increasing pressure on Russia are crucial to ending the conflict,” she stated. Zelenskyy has repeatedly urged allies for additional air defense systems, with Germany announcing it would soon dispatch two more US-made Patriot units to Ukraine. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022, Germany has already supplied three such systems.
Russian forces have made steady territorial gains over the past four months, data from the Institute for the Study of War shows. Between August 2024 and July 2025, they seized nearly 5,900 square kilometers, compared to 1,360 square kilometers in the previous year. In July alone, Russian troops captured 713 square kilometers, while Ukraine retook 79 square kilometers. Most of Russia’s recent advances occurred in the eastern Donetsk region, where Moscow now controls 78% of the territory, up from 62% a year earlier. Pro-Russian separatists held about 31% of the area before the invasion.
Former US President Donald Trump revealed he had deployed nuclear-capable submarines in response to a post by Russia’s ex-president Dmitry Medvedev, which he deemed provocative. On his social media platform, Trump said Medvedev’s statements prompted the decision to reposition the submarines. Medvedev had earlier described Trump’s warnings to Russia as a move toward war.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his desire for a “lasting and stable peace” in Ukraine but offered no signs of compromise. Speaking to reporters on Friday, he emphasized that any agreement must be built on terms acceptable to both nations while ensuring mutual security. Addressing Trump’s remarks about being “disappointed” with him, Putin remarked, “Disappointments stem from unrealistic expectations.”
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