Key events
Death toll of Kyiv attacks rise to 14 as Zelenskyy calls for ‘firm’ response with sanctions on Russia
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy just said the death toll of the overnight attack on Kyiv rose to 14, including three children.
He called it a “horrific and deliberate killing of civilians.”
The Russians are not choosing to end the war, only new strikes.
He added:
“Overnight in Kyiv, dozens of buildings were damaged: residential houses, office centers, civilian enterprises. Among them also the building where the European Union Delegation to Ukraine is located.”
He urged the world to “respond firmly,” as he stressed that “Russia must stop this war it started and continues.”
“For the spurning of ceasefire and for the constant Russian attempts to weasel out of negotiations, new strong sanctions are needed. Only this can work. The Russians understand only strength and pressure. For every strike, Moscow must feel the consequences.”
British Council’s Kyiv office appears to have been hit by Russian strikes overnight
Dan Sabbagh
in Kyiv
Looking at first reports from the area that was hit by overnight Russian strikes, it appears that the British Council’s offices in the centre of Kyiv have been hit, in an attack that took place at 5.40am.
Their Kyiv building is located very close to the EU delegation, and a number of pictures we are getting on the news agencies this morning appear to show it damaged by the strikes.
We have reached out to the British Council to find out if there were any casualties and to get a statement.
It is understood the organisation, which promotes the UK and English teaching abroad, is establishing what happened.
Overnight Russian attack on Kyiv – in pictures
Morning opening: ‘Massive’ Russian attack hits Kyiv, EU delegation building
Jakub Krupa
Russian airstrikes have killed at least twelve people in a succession of attacks on Kyiv overnight and wounded dozens more in the most deadly night raid on the Ukrainian capital for several weeks.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who revealed that a child was among the dead, said the attacks showed that Russia had no intention of negotiating an end the war, despite the recent intervention of US president Donald Trump.
The EU’s enlargement commissioner, Marta Kos, said the EU delegation in Kyiv was also damaged by the strikes.
“I strongly condemn these brutal attacks, a clear sign that Russia rejects peace & chooses terror. Our full solidarity goes to EU staff, their families, & all Ukrainians enduring this aggression,” she said.
The attack comes amid growing doubts over whether Russia is genuinely interested in continuing the Trump-led peace process, which was discussed with Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, as European leaders call it out as delay tactics that lead to nowhere.
We should hear more about it later today, with the European Commission set to brief journalists at its usual midday briefing.
Separately, EU defence and foreign ministers are meeting in Copenhagen tonight ahead an informal meeting focused on discussing the bloc’s next steps on Ukraine, with security guarantees high on the agenda.
I will bring you all the key updates here.
It’s Thursday, 28 August 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
