Russia Slams Kyiv with 30 Missiles in Second Major Attack This Week — NATO Summit Looms
Russia launched a massive missile and drone barrage on Kyiv early Monday, killing at least 14 people just hours before US President Donald Trump was set to travel to a critical NATO summit in Turkey [190404]. The attack is the second major assault on the Ukrainian capital in a week, following a strike Thursday that killed at least 30 people when missiles hit residential buildings [189418][188312].
The Russian military used dozens of cruise missiles, rockets, and drones in the overnight assault, damaging multiple buildings and trapping civilians inside [189826]. Explosions lit up the night sky as strikes hit several parts of the city [190404]. Emergency crews worked through the night to rescue survivors from rubble [189418].
Military experts say the timing of the escalation may be linked to the upcoming NATO summit. “Indirectly, Russia is saying the West is the reason for the war,” said military expert Johan Huovinen [190626]. The attack came as the alliance faces key decisions on support for Ukraine [190404].
The Thursday strike was one of the deadliest on Kyiv in months, with Moscow deliberately targeting residential areas rather than infrastructure [189418]. Iryna Moskaeva and her children were asleep in their apartment when an explosion rocked the building, forcing them to flee in the dark with nowhere to go [188312]. The United Nations condemned the strike as a violation of international law [189418].
The pattern of attacks shows Russia saving its long-range weapons for more powerful blows after a month of few large-scale air raids [188528]. Ukrainian officials said air defenses intercepted some projectiles, but debris caused additional damage on the ground [186952].