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Russia fired a record number of drones at Ukraine in July, an AFP analysis revealed on Friday, intensifying its attacks even as international pressure mounts.
A combined missile and drone strike on Kyiv on Thursday killed 31 people, including five children, most of whom were in a nine-storey apartment building.
In Kyiv, residents observed a day of mourning for the victims. AFP journalists witnessed rescue workers pulling bodies from the rubble.
Iryna Drozd, a 28-year-old mother, laid flowers at the site, stating, “These are flowers because children died. We brought flowers because we have children. Our children live across the street from here.” The youngest victim was a two-year-old.
Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated on Friday that while he wants peace, his demands for ending the invasion are “unchanged.” These demands include Ukraine withdrawing from territories it controls and abandoning its ambition to join NATO. “The main thing is to eradicate the causes that gave rise to this crisis,” Putin told reporters.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after announcing the end of rescue operations, renewed his call for a meeting with Putin, a proposal supported by the United States. “What is needed is Russia’s readiness,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.
However, Putin made no mention of a meeting, suggesting Kyiv was not ready to negotiate. “We can wait if the Ukrainian leadership believes that now is not the time,” he said.
Meanwhile, Putin claimed that Russian troops are advancing “along the entire front line” and that Moscow has begun mass producing the “Oreshnik,” a nuclear-capable, hypersonic missile.
The US has condemned Russia’s actions, with President Donald Trump calling them “disgusting” and suggesting new sanctions are forthcoming.
Trump issued a 10-day ultimatum for Moscow to halt the invasion.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also condemned the attacks as “depraved” and called for more weapons for Ukraine and tougher sanctions on Russia.
Germany responded by announcing it would soon deliver two more US-made Patriot missile launchers to Ukraine.
