Russian drone attack hits Kyiv government building

A mother and three-month-old child were among those killed in what Keir Starmer called Putin's 'cowardly strikes'

- HOLLY EVANS

Russia launched its largest aerial attack since the beginning of the war, killing four people across the country and striking a key government building in Kyiv for the first time.

Smoke could be seen rising from the building, which is the home of the country's cabinet and ministers, with the area cordoned off as fire engines and ambulances attended.

The attack on the Ukrainian capital killed two people and wounded 20 others, according to city officials. Those killed were a mother and her three-month-old child, whose bodies were dug out of the rubble, Tymur Tkachenko, the head of Kyiv's city administration, said.

Putin's forces had launched 810 drones and decoys, with Ukraine's air force stating that it had shot down 747 drones and four missiles.

The strike on an official government building marks an escalation in Russia's air campaign, which has so far spared such buildings in the city centre.

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is ready to meet Putin to negotiate a peace agreement, and has urged US president Donald Trump to impose punishing sanctions on Russia to push it to end the war.

The New York Post reported Mr Trump confirmed yesterday that he is ready to push ahead with fresh restrictions on the country.

He was asked by reporters whether he was ready to move to the "second stage" of sanctions against Russia, and he replied yes, but did not specify what this would mean in practice.