European Union leaders have condemned a large-scale Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv that killed at least 17 people and injured around 90 others, with top officials vowing to impose new sanctions on entities linked to Moscow's military-industrial complex. The overnight strike on July 2 involved 74 missiles and 496 drones, according to Ukrainian authorities, making it one of the heaviest attacks on the capital in recent months.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that words of condemnation alone are insufficient to stop such assaults. «Today I will propose sanctions against even more entities supporting the Russian military-industrial complex in response to these strikes. The more often Moscow attacks civilians, the more sanctions need to be imposed,» Kallas stated. European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Marta Kos emphasized that condemnation must be accompanied by concrete action, adding that «Russia is fighting to destroy Ukraine as a nation and deprive it of a European future. Europe must ensure these plans fail.»
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola expressed solidarity with the victims, saying her thoughts are with those who lost loved ones, those injured, and all who were forced to spend another night under fire. PACE President Petra Bayr noted that while Ukraine acts strictly in self-defense and strikes military targets, Russia again attacks civilians and sows terror. She voiced full solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
Baltic and Nordic countries also called for increased pressure on Moscow. Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže said Russia must be forced into peace through maximum pressure, including sanctions. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stressed that the Kremlin has not abandoned its imperial ambitions and that Ukraine needs military means to protect its people while pressure on Russia must intensify. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide condemned the attack, which hit civilian infrastructure and caused numerous casualties. Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen noted that Russia once again demonstrated contempt for human life by striking civilian infrastructure, and expressed respect for the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani expressed full solidarity with Ukraine, stating that Russia must stop these attacks and act as a responsible member of the international community. Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger said Putin will only retreat when this war becomes economically unprofitable for him, adding that Europe is working toward that goal and that Ukraine's security is also Europe's security. Moldovan President Maia Sandu expressed condolences and said Moldova firmly stands with Ukraine, calling for accountability for these crimes, stronger pressure on Russia, and greater support for Ukraine.
The attack caused extensive damage across Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelensky reported damage at over 20 locations, mostly residential buildings. A nine-story apartment building in the Darnytskyi district partially collapsed, and rescue workers continued searching for people under the rubble. Among the wounded was a 10-year-old boy who underwent surgery. The death toll in the capital later rose to 18, according to the State Emergency Service and city authorities. Strikes also hit civilian infrastructure in Kharkiv, Sumy, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, and Cherkasy regions, with additional casualties reported.
Ukrainian air defense systems intercepted a significant number of the incoming missiles and drones, but the scale of the attack overwhelmed some defenses. The assault underscores Russia's continued targeting of civilian areas despite international condemnation. EU officials stressed that the new sanctions package aims to cut off resources fueling Russia's war machine and to hold those responsible for attacks on civilians accountable.