Despite Trump's pressure for a ceasefire... Russia attacks Ukrainian government building

Overnight air raids by 805 drones

Despite Trump's pressure for a ceasefire, the offensive intensifies

Kyiv's government building was struck by a Russian drone attack on the 7th (local time). Russia, which has recently been under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to end the war, has instead been escalating the intensity of its offensive.

Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine's prime minister, wrote on Telegram that "for the first time the roof and upper floors of the government building were damaged by enemy attacks." It is the first time since Russia's February 2022 invasion that a Ukrainian government building has been hit by an airstrike.

A photo posted by Prime Minister Svyrydenko on Telegram showed red flames and smoke billowing from windows in the upper floors of the government building. She also posted photos showing authorities deploying firefighting helicopters and firefighters to extinguish the blaze.

Located in the heart of Kyiv, the Ukrainian government building houses major administrative ministries and is used for key ministers' offices.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia used 805 drones and 13 missiles overnight to attack Ukraine. The prime minister's office said Russia attacked not only Kyiv but also Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro, Kremenchuk, Odesa and other locations. The attacks killed 2 people and injured 15.

AP reported that among the dead was a 1-year-old baby. Kyiv military administration representative Timur Tkachenko said rescuers found the child's body in the rubble of a building.

Mansu Choi reporter bebop@hankyung.com