At least 16 people, including two children, have been killed in Kyiv after Russia launched a massive overnight drone and missile barrage on the Ukrainian capital and other regions, officials said. The victims' bodies were pulled from the rubble of a partially destroyed apartment building in Kyiv, where rescuers are still searching for at least 20 people feared missing, Ukraine's emergencies service DSNS reported.

Forty-seven people, including two children, were injured. Friday has been declared a day of mourning in the city. This marks the third consecutive day of reported deaths in Ukraine, following the expiration of a three-day ceasefire on Monday.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the overnight attack involved over 670 drones and 56 missiles, making it one of the largest since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022. The strikes hit more than 180 sites across Ukraine, including over 50 residential buildings.

Zelensky described the assault as 'definitely not the actions of those who believe the war is coming to an end' and urged allies to hold Moscow accountable. He claimed a 93% interception rate for drones and 73% for missiles, but admitted that defending against Russian ballistic missiles remains a key challenge.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen accused Moscow of indiscriminately targeting civilians and announced a €6 billion drone support package for Ukraine. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that the body of a 12-year-old girl was recovered from rubble, and water supply was disrupted.

Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said over 1,500 rescuers and police officers are working at the scene. Witness Iryna Movchan, who had returned to Ukraine after two years, described the attack as 'Armageddon.'

In a separate development, a Kyiv court ordered 60 days' pretrial detention for Zelensky's former aide Andriy Yermak over a corruption scandal involving a $10.1 million money-laundering scheme. Yermak denied the allegations and said he would appeal.

Source: www.bbc.com