Russia hits Ukraine with heaviest wartime attack

Russia targeted Ukraine's capital Kyiv with a drone onslaught sustained over two days, marking the biggest attack recorded since Moscow's war on the country began in 2022.

"Ukrainian officials described [it] as one of the longest and largest coordinated bombardments of the war," a report by Kyiv Post read.

A section of a nine-story apartment building in the capital was destroyed by a Russian strike, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. At least 16 people were killed in Kyiv, including two children, according to Ukraine's state emergency response service, in addition to dozens of other injuries.

There were continuing rescue efforts around the rubble as people remain missing, which means the death toll could rise.

“Families should always feel safe,” UN humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine Bernadette Castel-Hollingsworth said from outside the rubble, condemning the Russian attacks.

“Mothers should not be waiting to know if their children are alive under the rubble after these missile attacks.” 

Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko announced a day of mourning for the city on 15 May.

Zelenskyy called the historic bombardment that took place over 13 and 14 May "a massive and virtually nonstop Russian attack that lasted nearly 48 hours" on Kyiv and other regions in the country.

He said authorities recorded more than 1,560 drones from Russia, the most for a set of strikes since Moscow began its military offensive in February 2022. Ukraine also recorded 56 missiles launched by Russia.

Zelenskyy announced that he ordered Ukraine's defense forces and intelligence agencies to consider response options to the Russian attack.

Humanitarian workers were struck while conducting aid work in southern Ukraine, a violation of international law, also on 14 May.

Two aid convoys by World Central Kitchen (WCK) and the UN were hit by separate drone attacks in Kherson. Humanitarian workers, considered civilians, are supposed to be protected from attacks under the rules of war.

WCK claimed it was attacked by Russian forces "while delivering hot meals in Kherson."

The organization's founder Jose Andres called the strikes war crimes that "the world cannot accept ... as normal." The group did not provide evidence on how it knew Russia was behind the strikes.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said a convoy was struck twice during its humanitarian aid mission to Ostriv, a region of more than 200 civilians who haven't been served for months and are in need of assistance. The UN agency called Ostriv "one of Kherson’s hardest hit areas" that is "hard-to-reach," and said it delivered "food and solar lamps to residents."

The clearly-labeled aid convoy was struck once entering Ostriv, and again while at the aid delivery site, according to a video report by OCHA's Andrea De Domenico in Ukraine. He said no one was injured.

"We demand answers and accountability," UN's humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator Tom Fletcher said.

Over the last week, there were failed attempts to halt the war—at least for a few days. Russian leader Vladimir Putin threatened to attack Kyiv if Ukraine sought to disrupted its 9 May parade marking the anniversary of the country's Soviet victory against Nazi Germany in World War II. US president Donald Trump organized a three-day ceasefire around Russia's Victory Day.

However, both countries accused each other of ceasefire violations (paywall), and independent reports found "a reduction, but not cessation, of hostilities."

Putin also told journalists on Victory Day, "I believe the matter is coming to a close." He did not detail how exactly Moscow would move to end its war.

"These are definitely not the actions of those who believe the war is coming to an end," Zelenskyy said after the attacks on 13 and 14 May.

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