Ukraine updates: Deadly Russian attack hits Kyiv

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Kyrylo Budanov as the new head of the country's presidential office. 

Budanov is the head of the Ukrainian military intelligence service.

He fills the post that was available since the resignation of his predecessor Andrii Yermak, who left the role due to a corruption scandal among Ukraine's high-ranking officials.

Read more about Budanov, and about the reasons for his growing popularity in Ukraine, in our story.

 

Russia's overnight strike on a hospital in Kyiv resulted in one patient being killed and four injured, the Ukrainian capital's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said Monday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted after the strike, saying Moscow "'defeated' another hospital."

Zelenskyy said the Russian drone attack should remind Ukraine's partners — the European Union and the US — of the country's need for air defense and funding for interceptor drones, so that Kyiv can defend itself against Russia's full-scale war.

The overnight strike involved nine ballistic missiles, repurposed anti-aircraft missiles and 165 combat drones, per Ukraine's air force, with 137 of the drones being intercepted.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has said Europe needs to become more self-sufficient in its defense capabilities if it is to combat growing Russian aggression.

Speaking before departing on an official visit to Lithuania, Wadephul said Europe had to "meet the threat posed by Russia with firm European solidarity."

He said it was vital "that we are prepared to defend ourselves and our freedom more independently."

Both Germany and Lithuania are in agreement that only resolute action would help deter Russia from its current course of constant escalation, Wadephul said.

He said the German government was working together with Lithuania and other NATO partners and EU member states to this end, including by stepping up patrols over the Baltic Sea, being more alert and investing in more robust infrastructure. 

According to Wadephul, both Germany and Lithuania are united by their determined support for Ukraine, "particularly during this possibly decisive phase of international efforts to end Russia's war of aggression."

During his visit to Vilnius, Wadephul is scheduled to hold talks with Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene and Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys on Ukraine, the defense of NATO's eastern flank and the fight against hybrid threats such as cyberattacks and disinformation.

Wadephul also intends to visit the 45th Panzer (Tank) Brigade of the German Bundeswehr in Nemencine near Vilnius, which has been deployed to NATO's eastern flank to help counter the threat of Russian territorial aggression. 

Diplomatic efforts to end the nearly four-year-long war between Russia and Ukraine will continue this week.

On Monday, Ukraine's allies' chiefs of general staff are expected to meet in Kyiv to discuss the country's future. 

The following day, the so-called Coalition of the Willing, led by France and the United Kingdom, will meet in Paris to discuss the outcomes of the meetings from the previous day.

Last Saturday, national security advisers from 14 EU countries and Canada met in Kyiv.

Ukraine has targeted Moscow with drones every day in 2026 so far, marking an apparent escalation from earlier, more sporadic attacks on the Russian capital, according to data published by Russia’s Defense Ministry.

By midnight on Sunday alone, Russian air defense systems had destroyed 57 drones over the Moscow region, out of 437 drones downed over Russia, the Ministry of Defense said on its Telegram messaging app.

Ukraine says that these drone attacks are intended to disrupt military logistics and energy infrastructure, increase the cost of Moscow's war effort, and retaliate against Russia's repeated missile and drone attacks since the beginning of the war nearly four years ago.

US President Donald Trump has said US officials have determined that Ukraine did not target the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin in a drone attack last week.

This contradicts the Kremlin's claims, which Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy had dismissed as "typical" lies from Moscow that were designed to detail ongoing peace talks.

Trump said last week that "something happened nearby" Putin's residence, but has now said that American officials didn't find evidence that the Russian president's residence was targeted.

"I don't believe that strike happened," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he traveled back to Washington on Sunday after spending two weeks at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.

"We don't believe that happened, now that we've been able to check," he added.

At least two people have been killed in Russia's overnight strikes on Kyiv and the surrounding region, Ukrainian authorities reported, after a countrywide air alert was issued.

Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said one person was killed in the capital.

Ukraine's State Emergency Service reported that the strike started a fire at a medical facility in the Obolonskyi district of northern Kyiv.

The facility had an inpatient ward operating at the time of the fire. After extinguishing the blaze, the service found a body inside.

The service reported on the Telegram messaging app that three people were injured and 25 had been evacuated.

Towns and villages across the Kyiv region were also hit. According to Kyiv regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk, a man in his 70s was killed in the town of Fastiv, southwest of the capital.

Welcome to DW's coverage of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Diplomatic efforts to end the war, which will have intensified recently, are set to continue this week.

Despite the peace talks, Russia has continued to regularly attack Ukrainian cities with drones and missiles.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has said US officials have concluded that Ukraine did not target the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin in a drone attack last week.

Moscow had accused Kyiv of the alleged attack, claims Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed as "typical Russian lies."

Stay tuned for the latest news and analysis.