'Pure terror': How world responding to Russia’s largest strike on Ukraine

European Union

EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova noted that dictator Putin is becoming increasingly brazen, having struck the Cabinet of Ministers building in Kyiv.

The diplomat shared that she had just returned to Kyiv and endured one of the most horrifying nights.

"The thunder of explosions swallowed sleep, and I spent the night again on the bathroom floor of my hotel — my shelter when sirens howl and the world collapses outside," the ambassador said.

She emphasized that this night, Russia carried out the most massive airstrike since the start of the full-scale invasion, targeting Kyiv, Kremenchuk, Kryvyi Rih, Odesa, Dnipro, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia.

"This escalation by Putin is pure terror. It is an assault on people, on democracy, on our very spirit… Ukrainians rightly demand more than words. Stronger sanctions — especially on Russian oil and gas. And more weapons for Ukraine — now — to stop this terror," Mathernova added.

Latvia

Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs stated that the Russian attack demonstrated Moscow’s escalation of the conflict, as one of the strikes damaged the Cabinet of Ministers building.

"The message is clear- Kremlin wants war, not peace. Our response must be more weapons to Ukraine, more pressure on Russia," he wrote on Twitter (X).

Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, commenting on the first strike against Ukraine’s government building, said, "Russia does not want peace, it wants more war, aggression and suffering." She stressed that Europe must put an end to this.

Czechia

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský commented on the massive strike on Ukraine, saying that Putin "wants to kill as many Ukrainians as possible."

"Last night, he launched over 800 drones and missiles, killing a mother and her two-month-old baby. A coward who attacks women and children. To talk today about stopping aid to Ukraine means siding with the aggressor," he said.

Estonia

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said that Russia’s terrorist "anti-records" demand a decisive response — new, tougher sanctions against Russia and greater support for Ukraine.

Russian attack on Ukraine

Last night, Russian forces launched 810 drones and 13 missiles, including ballistic ones, against Ukraine. Air defense destroyed 747 drones and four missiles, but there were also strikes.

In Kyiv, civilian infrastructure was damaged, including four residential high-rises. The building in the Sviatoshyn district was hit the hardest, where two people — a mother and her young son — were killed. More than 20 others were injured.

For the first time since the start of the full-scale war, Russia also targeted the Cabinet of Ministers building in Kyiv.

Read more about the consequences of the attack in RBC-Ukraine’s report.