Ukraine woke to renewed Russian air strikes overnight, bringing an abrupt end to a brief pause in fighting that had been agreed by Washington and Moscow and underscoring how fragile any reduction in hostilities remains.
In the capital Kyiv, air raid sirens wailed for hours, sending residents rushing underground to the city’s metro system. The vast Soviet era network, originally designed with Cold War contingencies in mind, has once again become a lifeline for civilians. Platforms and corridors were transformed into makeshift shelters, with families bedding down on the floors and relying on access to water and toilets as explosions echoed above ground.
Ukraine’s emergency services said at least three people were injured in Kyiv during the attacks. Several fires broke out across the city, including a blaze on the 26th floor of a residential high rise in the Darnytskyi district, highlighting the danger posed to densely populated areas. Additional buildings were struck in the Shevchenkivskyi and Dniprovskyi districts, while damage was also reported to a petrol station and several vehicles in Pecherskyi. Firefighters were able to contain and extinguish all reported fires by morning.
Beyond the capital, strikes were also reported in other major cities, including Kharkiv in the northeast, Sumy near the Russian border, and the central city of Dnipro. The widespread nature of the attacks suggested a coordinated assault rather than isolated incidents, reinforcing concerns among Ukrainian officials and civilians that any diplomatic understandings have yet to translate into lasting restraint on the battlefield.
The renewed bombardment has heightened anxiety among residents, many of whom had hoped the pause might signal a step toward de escalation. Instead, the overnight strikes served as a stark reminder that Ukraine’s air defence systems and civilian infrastructure remain under constant threat, even during periods described as temporary lulls.
As daylight broke, authorities continued assessing the damage while urging residents to remain cautious and heed air raid warnings. The latest attacks add to growing skepticism about the durability of diplomatic efforts and underline the continuing human cost of a war now marked by sudden pauses followed by renewed violence.
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