Ukraine Mourns The Death Of 31 People In Russian Attack On Kyiv

The impact of the Russian attack on Ukraine/PHOTO via X@ ZelenskyyUa

JAKARTA - The Ukrainian rescue team found more than a dozen bodies from the rubble of an apartment block that collapsed in Kyiv overnight. The death toll from Russia's worst airstrikes this year in the Ukrainian capital is 31 people.

A two-year-old toddler was among five children found dead following Russian drone and missile attacks on Thursday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday, August 1, announced the end of a rescue operation that lasted more than 24 hours.

A total of 159 people were injured in the repeated attacks, involving more than 300 unmanned aircraft and eight missiles on Thursday morning.

The attack is the latest in a series of fierce attacks on cities in Ukraine.

Reuters reported that the worst damage occurred to the partially collapsed apartment building in Sviatoshyn district in western Kyiv. Damage was also reported in at least three other districts in the capital.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday sharply criticized Russia's "disgraceful" behavior towards Ukraine, while saying he was unsure whether sanctions would deter Russia.

Trump has given President Vladimir Putin until August 8 to reach an agreement, or he will respond with economic pressure.

Natalia Matviyenko, 65, who sits near the damaged apartment building, said she doesn't really believe in Trump's hard rhetoric.

"Trump just said, 'I'm annoyed with President Putin's behavior.' Then what? No results," he said.

The US President in recent weeks has withdrawn his previous peaceful approach to Moscow and hinted at openness to arm Ukraine.

However, diplomatic efforts to end the war have stalled, as Moscow has not backed back from what Kyiv and its allies have described as maximal demands.

On Friday, mourners laid flowers and lit candles in the destroyed apartment block, where the excavator thundered lifting heavy debris.

The emergency temple is equipped with bright colored dolls.

Oksana Kinal, 43, who placed flowers in honor of a co-worker who was killed with her son, said she hoped Trump would follow up on her threats but also expressed doubts.

"I think America has many weak points that can be used against Russia," he said.

"But will Putin listen to this? I don't know."

Kyiv Air Force said Ukraine's air defenses destroyed more than 6,000 drones and missiles across the country in just July.

"The world has all the instruments needed to ensure Russia is brought to justice," Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko wrote on Friday.

"What's lacking is not power but will," he said.