Kyiv/Washington, September 8(HS): In the dead of night on September 7, 2025, Russia unleashed its biggest aerial assault since the start of the Ukraine conflict, launching over 800 drones and multiple missiles targeting Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. For the first time during the three-and-a-half-year war, the main government building in Kyiv, the Cabinet of Ministers, was struck and set ablaze, symbolizing a stark escalation in Russia’s military campaign.
At least four civilians, including an infant, were killed in the attack, with over 40 injured. Residential buildings were also targeted, underscoring the conflict’s increasing toll on non-combatants. Kyiv endured nearly 11 hours under air-raid alerts as emergency crews battled fires amid dense smoke rising from the heart of the capital.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the strikes as ruthless and called on the international community for a “strong response,” stressing that Russian President Vladimir Putin was “testing the world.” Zelensky’s evening address emphasized the need for pronounced sanctions and bolstered military aid, appealing to global leaders to back words with decisive actions to counter Moscow’s aggression. He specifically expressed hope for a robust response from the United States, lauding support from France, and engaging in talks with European and NATO leaders to ramp up pressure on Russia.
Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump expressed his unhappiness with the unfolding situation, telling reporters, “I’m not happy. I’m not happy about the whole situation,” and signaling readiness to impose further sanctions against Russia. Trump, whose recent high-stakes but ultimately unsuccessful summit with Putin in Alaska sparked debate over peace prospects, acknowledged the gravity of the attack and the need for a strong response, though he continued to attribute portions of blame across sides. His envoy to Ukraine remarked that Russia’s escalation showed no intent to end the conflict diplomatically.
International reactions flooded in, with many condemning the assault as a “deliberate crime” targeting civilian infrastructure and a grim reminder of the brutal realities of the war. The attack’s scale—more than 800 drones plus missiles—underscored Moscow’s approach of overwhelming force rather than diplomacy in the contested region.
As Kyiv smolders and Ukraine mourns its newest victims, the world watches closely for the next moves in this escalating crisis, with renewed calls for unity among Western allies to counter the mounting aggression and bring the war to an end.
This landmark air raid, the largest in the war so far, marks a critical juncture in the ongoing conflict and sets the tone for forthcoming geopolitical and military responses in the days ahead.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
