Russia pummeled Ukraine’s capital with hundreds of drones and missiles early Thursday, the latest in a string of deadly Russian strikes this week. The attacks suggested that President Vladimir V. Putin had little intention of de-escalating his war, after he declared recently that he believed it was “coming to a close.”
Explosions shook Kyiv, the capital, over several hours Thursday morning as Ukrainian forces tried to intercept and shoot down the drones and missiles, some of which evaded overwhelmed air-defense systems. The attack included cruise and ballistic missiles that Moscow often stockpiles for mass bombardments.
As the sun rose, rescue teams searched for survivors in the rubble of a collapsed residential building in Kyiv, where the mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said 18 apartments had been destroyed. At least one person was killed and dozens of others wounded, including a month-old baby, Mr. Klitschko said.
The early-morning bombardment came after several other deadly Russian attacks across Ukraine this week, including a wave of daytime drone strikes on Wednesday that killed at least six people.
“These are definitely not the actions of those who believe the war is coming to an end,” President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine wrote on social media after the strikes on Thursday.
Last week, Russia threatened a devastating attack on Kyiv if Ukraine were to disrupt its annual May 9 parade in Moscow, which marks the anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany during World War II.
President Trump then announced a three-day truce between Russia and Ukraine, which briefly halted long-range attacks from either side even as fighting on the front line continued.
Ukraine did not attack the parade in Moscow, which took place as planned, if toned down compared with those in years past. After the commemorations, Mr. Putin, referring to the war in Ukraine, told journalists, “I believe the matter is coming to a close.” But he also said Russia “must focus its attention on the final defeat of the enemy” and gave no indication that he would modify his demands with a view toward ending the war.
When the truce expired on Monday, widespread strikes quickly resumed.
The attacks on Kyiv on Thursday came as Mr. Trump met in Beijing with Xi Jinping, China’s leader. Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s foreign minister, urged the two leaders to band together and exert leverage on Mr. Putin to end the war.
“Putin wants this war to continue in order to prolong his control and rule over Russia,” Mr. Sybiha wrote on social media. “There should be no illusions or wishful thinking: only pressure on Moscow can force him to stop.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Nataliia Novosolova contributed reporting from Kyiv.
