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Russia’s overnight drone attack on Kyiv killed 26 people
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Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has urged his allies to bring about “regime change” in Russia after Moscow‘s drone attack on Kyiv killed 26 people, including three children.
At least 150 people sustained injuries after the overnight strikes reduced part of a nine-storey apartment block in Kyiv’s western suburbs to rubble.
“If the world doesn’t aim to change the regime in Russia, that means even after the war ends, Moscow will still try to destabilise neighbouring countries,” he said at a conference commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Cold War-era Helsinki Accords.
This statement comes as US president Donald Trump, in his latest attack on Vladimir Putin, said that Russia’s war in Ukraine was“disgusting”.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, he said he plans to impose sanctions on Moscow if no agreement can be reached to end the conflict.
Mr Trump said he was not sure whether sanctions would deter Russia. Earlier this week, the president announced that Moscow had until August 8 to make a deal or face sanctions. US special envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Russia after his current trip to Israel, the president said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that he hoped peace talks between Russia and Ukraine would continue and that working groups could discuss potential compromises, but said Moscow’s goals remained unchanged.
Speaking one week before the expiry of a deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump for Russia to agree a ceasefire in Ukraine or face new sanctions – including on countries that buy its energy exports – Putin gave no hint of any change in Moscow’s position.
He said that if anyone was disappointed in the outcome of peace talks to date, that was a consequence of inflated expectations.
Speaking to reporters at a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in northern Russia, Putin said talks should be conducted “without cameras and in a calm atmosphere.”
He said Russian troops were attacking Ukraine along the entire front line and that the momentum was in their favour, citing the announcement by his Defence Ministry on Thursday that Moscow’s forces had captured the Ukrainian town of Chasiv Yar after a 16-month battle.
Ukraine’s partners had “confirmed positive signals” about imminent White House pressure on Russia following President Volodymyr Zelensky’s conversations with British, French, German and Italian counterparts, a top Ukrainian official said.
“Our partners confirmed positive signals from the White House regarding firm actions against the Russian Federation’s particularly on sanctions targeting Russian oil and secondary tariffs following the end of the 10-day deadline set by President Donald Trump,” Andriy Yermak wrote on X.
He added that he also discussed preparations for a “historic” bilateral security deal between Kyiv and Washington backed financially by European allies.
Ukrainian authorities have confirmed that at least 26 people, including children, were killed in Russia’s drone and missile attack on Kyiv.
Ukraine’s interior ministry said the toll was revised after “rescuers retrieved 10 bodies from the rubble of the residential building in Sviatoshynsky district, including the body of a two-year-old child”.
Russia launched waves of missiles and drones, targeting more than two dozen locations in Kyiv before dawn on Thursday.
The attack destroyed a building and left 159 people, including 16 children, wounded.
US President Donald Trump has said that Russia’s war in Ukraine is “disgusting”.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, he said he plans to impose sanctions on Moscow if no agreement can be reached to end the conflict.
Mr Trump said he was not sure whether sanctions would deter Russia.
He has given Russian president Vladimir Putin until 8 August to make a deal or else he will respond with economic pressure.
Ukraine’s parliament has overwhelmingly approved a bill presented by president Volodymyr Zelensky that restores the independence of two of the country’s key anti-corruption watchdogs, reversing his contentious move last week that curbed their power and brought an outcry.
Last week’s measure by Mr Zelensky to place the watchdogs under the oversight of the prosecutor-general prompted rebukes from Ukrainians, the EU and international rights groups. It raised fears that the government could meddle in investigations and potentially shield its supporters from scrutiny.
Fighting entrenched corruption is crucial for Ukraine’s aspirations to join the EU and maintain access to billions of dollars of vital Western aid in the nearly 3½-year all-out war. It’s also an effort that enjoys broad public support.
Kyiv authorities have announced a day of mourning to be held today for the 16 people killed in Russia’s drone and missile attack.
Russia launched waves of missiles and drones on Kyiv before dawn on Thursday, killing 16 people, including two children, and wounding well over 100 others, officials in the Ukrainian capital said.
“Tomorrow, August 1, has been declared a day of mourning in Kyiv. In memory of the victims of the enemy’s massive attack on the capital,” Kyiv mayor Vitali Klytschko said on Telegram.
“On this day, flags will be flown at half-mast on all municipal buildings in the city. It is also recommended to fly state flags at half-mast on state and privately owned buildings.”
Military analyst Emil Kastehelmi, co-founder of the Finland-based Black Bird Group, said it was likely that battles were continuing near Chasiv Yar.
Russia yesterday claimed it had captured the town of Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine after nearly 16 months of fighting. Ukraine denied the claims, calling it propaganda.
“The terrain of Chasiv Yar has favoured the defender. Forested areas, waterways, hills and a varied building stock have enabled Ukraine to conduct a defensive operation lasting over a year, in which the Russians have made minimal monthly progress,” he told Reuters.
Mr Kastehelmi said it was likely that the town’s fall, if confirmed, would create conditions for Russia to advance further in eastern Ukraine, but still only gradually.
“The fall of the city to the enemy is nevertheless a challenging situation for Ukraine, as it will bring the Russians closer to Kostiantynivka, which Russia is now approaching from several directions,” he said.
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Ukraine Russia war live: Zelensky calls for regime change after deadly Kyiv attack as Trump slams Putin invasion – The Independent
