HOME > AFP-JIJI PRESS NEWS JOURNAL > Article
Wave of Russian drones, missiles kill two in Kyiv
Russia hammered Ukraine with its second large-scale drone and missile barrage in as many nights Thursday, killing at least two people and sparking large blazes in Kyiv over the hours-long attack.
The barrage came before Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was set to meet his US counterpart Marco Rubio in Malaysia, and as Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky pushes for more political and military support in Rome.
AFP journalists heard loud blasts echoing over Kyiv throughout the night and saw flashes from air defence systems lighting up the sky.
Zelensky said Russia had launched some 18 missiles and more than 400 drones in the combined attack and urged Ukraine's allies to roll out fresh sanctions on Moscow more quickly.
Sanctions must be imposed faster, and pressure on Russia must be strong enough that they truly feel the consequences of their terror, he wrote on social media.
The fresh onslaught came just one night after Russia fired a record number of 741 long-range drones and missiles at Ukraine since launched its costly invasion more than three years ago.
The attack killed two women -- a 22-year-old policewoman, who was on an overnight duty at a metro station, and a 68-year-old Kyiv resident, and left 16 people wounded, authorities said.
AFP reporters saw firefighters putting out flames in a damaged residential building in Kyiv and people emerging from shelters, carrying sleeping mats and pets after the air alert was lifted.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said debris from downed Russian projectiles had sparked fires in several districts of the capital.
Three people were also wounded in Russian strikes in southern Kherson, regional authorities said, and one person was killed in Russia's western Belgorod region after a Ukrainian attack.
- Coalition call -
Russia's escalating attacks and record barrage this week point to a trend that have piled pressure on Ukraine's thinly stretched air defences and exhausted the civilian population.
Two rounds of direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations this year secured more prisoner exchanges but made no progress on a ceasefire, proposed by the United States and Ukraine.
Washington's top diplomat, Rubio, will meet his Russian counterpart in Kuala Lumpur on the sidelines of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting, a senior State Department official said.
Their meeting follows Donald Trump's recent expletive-filled comments about Vladimir Putin -- reflecting the US president's growing frustration with the Russian leader over the grinding war.
Trump accused Putin of talking bullshit about Ukraine, adding that the United States would send Kyiv more weapons to defend itself.
Rubio and Lavrov last met in person in February in Saudi Arabia, following a rapprochement between Trump and Putin. The two diplomats have also spoken multiple times by phone.
Also on Thursday, Zelensky will join a call with leaders from around 30 countries in the Ukraine coalition of the willing.
Zelensky said after the attack that he would speak to allies about additional funding for the production of interceptor drones and the supply of air defense systems for Ukraine.
The objectives are absolutely clear. Such Russian attacks must be met with a tough response, he added, vowing a firm response.
Britain and France are spearheading talks among the coalition on how to support a possible ceasefire in Ukraine, including potentially deploying peacekeeping forces.
Zelensky urged allies to speed up imposing new sanctions on Moscow, so that they truly feel the consequences of their terror.
The office of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said this week that the call would cover stepping up support for Ukraine and further increasing pressure on Russia.
(2025/07/10 18:28)
Click Here for Japanese TranslationAFP-JIJI PRESS NEWS JOURNAL
- 07/10 18:31 China says foiled foreign spying plots including 'honeytrap'
- 07/10 18:28 Wave of Russian drones, missiles kill two in Kyiv
- 07/10 18:26 Hamas agrees partial hostage release in 'difficult' truce talks
- 07/10 18:00 Trump says former FBI, CIA directors may have to 'pay a price'
- 07/10 17:43 Ex-Real Madrid coach Ancelotti gets year's jail for tax fraud
- 07/10 17:41 Trump hits Brazil with 50% tariff, sets date for copper levy
- 07/09 19:11 Trump faces MAGA meltdown over Epstein reversal
- 07/09 19:07 Trump holds fresh talks with Netanyahu to end Gaza 'tragedy'
- 07/09 18:28 King Charles, Macron laud new 'entente' on first day of French president's state visit
- 07/09 18:26 Trump says to set 50% copper tariff, no extension to August deadline
- 07/09 18:03 Indian villagers beat five to death for 'witchcraft'
- 07/09 18:01 Trump accuses Putin of talking 'bullshit' on Ukraine
- 07/08 18:18 Even without wins, Musk's party may be threat to Trump-- analysts
- 07/08 18:14 Epstein died by suicide, did not have 'client list'-- govt memo
- 07/08 17:11 Iran president says Israel attempted to assassinate him
- 07/08 17:09 Trump says new tariff deadline 'not 100 percent firm'
- 07/08 16:31 Mexico president slams xenophobia after anti-gentrification protest
- 07/08 16:28 Hiker in Alpine crevasse rescued... by a Chihuahua
- 07/07 17:10 North Korea bars Western influencers from trade fair tour
- 07/07 17:07 Indonesia volcano spews 18-kilometre ash tower
- 07/07 17:03 Ozzy Osbourne brings curtain down as hometown goes wild for Black Sabbath
- 07/07 16:35 Family and football unite to bid Diogo Jota farewell
- 07/07 16:28 Philippines asks Japan's help searching lake for missing cockfighters
- 07/07 16:24 'Childhood dream'-- Seine reopens to Paris swimmers after century-long ban
- 07/04 17:58 UN expert says firms 'profiting' from 'genocide' of Palestinians
- 07/04 17:54 Record cold grips Argentina, Chile and Uruguay
- 07/04 16:47 Joy riders give Paris bike share system a flat
- 07/04 16:32 Netanyahu vows to bring all Gaza hostages home
- 07/04 16:30 Thousands evacuated as Greek, Turkish wildfires rage
- 07/04 16:28 Top China official says US defence chief 'inciting conflict'
- 07/03 17:52 Israel far right issues rare rebuke of settler attack on army
- 07/03 17:47 Teen plotting attacks on women charged in France's first 'incel' case
- 07/03 17:43 North Korea opens massive beach resort-- state media
- 07/03 16:18 Third-ever confirmed interstellar object blazing through Solar System
- 07/03 16:15 Ukraine scrambling for clarity as US downplays halt to arms shipments
- 07/03 16:13 Germany swelters as European heatwave moves eastwards
- 07/02 19:19 Monsoon-loving Indian expats chase rain in UAE desert
- 07/02 19:14 Trump hails new 'Alligator Alcatraz' migrant detention center
- 07/02 19:10 US halting some shipments of military aid to Ukraine
- 07/02 18:47 Trump says will 'take a look' at deporting Musk
- 07/02 18:44 US college bans transgender athletes following swimming furor
- 07/02 18:32 Rubio hails end of USAID as Bush, Obama deplore cost in lives
- 07/01 17:39 Trump attacks Musk subsidies in spending bill row
- 07/01 17:36 North Korea's Kim shown honouring troops killed in Russia-Ukraine war
- 07/01 17:35 Bogdanovic retires after 10 NBA seasons due to foot injury
- 07/01 15:13 EPA employees accuse Trump administration of 'ignoring' science
- 07/01 15:11 Pistons' Beasley being investigated on NBA-related gambling-- report