EU reacts to massive attack on Kyiv: ‘Kremlin will stop at nothing to terrorise Ukraine’

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said today she was “outraged” after last night’s massive Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv, killing at least 15 people, including four children. 

The attack struck in close proximity of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, severely damaging the building and destroying an adjacent building. “Two missiles hit in a distance of 50 metres of the Delegation within 20 seconds,” von der Leyen said. 

“This is another grim reminder of what is at stake. It shows that the Kremlin will stop at nothing to terrorise Ukraine. Blindly killing civilians, men, women and children and even targeting the European Union. This is why we’re keeping maximum pressure on Russia,” von der Leyen said in a statement.

The European Commission President said the EU would come forward soon with its 19th package of “hard, biting sanctions” and advance the work on Russian frozen assets to contribute to Ukraine’s defence and reconstruction. 

She also thanked “brave staff” at the EU Delegation in Ukraine, working in “extremely difficult conditions”, and added that she would travel tomorrow to the seven Member States that are strengthening and protecting the EU’s external borders with Russia and Belarus.

European Council President António Costa, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos also expressed their solidarity with the victims and the staff of the EU Delegation to Ukraine.

“The EU will not be intimidated. Russia’s aggression only strengthens our resolve to stand with Ukraine and its people,” António Costa posted on X, saying that he was horrified by the attack.

“I strongly condemn these brutal attacks, a clear sign that Russia rejects peace and chooses terror,” Marta Kos wrote on X.

“While the world seeks a path to peace, Russia responds with missiles,” Kaja Kallas said on X. “The overnight attack on Kyiv shows a deliberate choice to escalate and mock the peace efforts. Russia must stop the killing and negotiate.”

Kaja Kallas later announced that the EU would be “summoning the Russian envoy in Brussels” to express the EU’s protest against the attack. The Kremlin’s chargé d’affaires to the EU is Karen Malayan.

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Statement by Ursula von der Leyen – Video 

Antonio Costa post on X

Kaja Kallas post on X

Marta Kos post on X