Russia has targeted the British Council facility in Kyiv as Vladimir Putin launched a barrage of hypersonic missiles and drones on the city, resulting in at least 14 fatalities.

Footage captures a missile striking the building on Zhylyanska St early this morning at 5.40am, with a second missile hitting just 20 seconds afterward.

Debris from the shattered windows lay scattered across the street. The British Council, although independently operated, benefits from funding by the Foreign Office. Additionally, a building used by the European Union’s delegation in Kyiv was also struck.

Putin launched 629 drones and missiles across the country, the second-highest figure of the entire war, even as he talks about ending the war and despite US President Donald Trump’s push for a ceasefire. 

Following the strikes, the EU has summoned Moscow’s envoy in Brussels. Kaja Kallas the bloc’s foreign policy chief said: ‘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’. 

She also warned: ‘ No diplomatic mission should ever be a target.’ At dawn, residents and emergency workers were clearing debris from streets covered with broken glass and rubble. 

Meanwhile, British prime minister Keir Starmer blasted the ‘senseless’ attacks and accused Putin of ‘sabotaging piece. He said: ‘Putin is killing children and civilians, and sabotaging hopes of peace. This bloodshed must end.’

Images posted by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky showed a five-storey crater blasted into an apartment block, splitting the building in two.  Windows of nearby homes and small businesses were shattered.

Local media reported that Ukraine had also targeted the Novokuibyshevsk refinery in Russia’s Samara Oblast and the Afipsky refinery in Krasnodar Krai in a clear display that the war shows no signs of ending. 

In the attacks on Kyiv, mattresses dangled from crumpled balconies, blown open by the impact. The attack blasted a five-storey crater in one apartment block, ripping the building in two. Victims were seen being carried in body bags as heavy construction equipment was used to sort through the rubble. 

It is believed that some people may still be trapped underneath the carnage. A man whose building was hit told AFP: ‘If I had gone to the shelter a minute later, I would not be here now, I would have been buried.’

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said: ‘Russia chooses ballistics instead of the negotiating table. It chooses to continue killing instead of ending the war,’ he wrote on social media. This means that Russia still does not fear the consequences.’

Zelensky called for a strong response from Ukraine’s allies, including more sanctions. He also urged China and Hungary to take a tougher stance against Moscow.

‘All deadlines have already been broken, dozens of opportunities for diplomacy ruined. Russia must feel accountable for every strike, for every day of this war,’ he said.

The Kremlin, however claimed that Putin is still open to negotiations but insisted that the strikes would not stop. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: ‘The Russian armed forces are fulfilling their tasks. 

‘At the same time, Russia remains interested in continuing the negotiation process. They continue to strike military and military-adjacent infrastructure facilities.

Kyiv was well protected from Russian air attacks early in the war, but in recent months it has faced multiple deadly strikes as Moscow fires record numbers of missiles and drones.

Last month, the city suffered one of its worst attacks when more than 30 people were killed, including five children.

Among Thursday’s victims was a 14-year-old girl, Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, said.

He added that Moscow had fired ballistic and cruise missiles along with Iranian-designed Shahed drones from different directions to ‘systematically’ target homes.

Russia’s Novokuibyshevsk facility, situated 560 miles from the Ukrainian border, paused production early in August after it was damaged by a strike. 

Telegram channels in Russia posted pictures and videos of massive fires on the premises of the facility, according to Kyiv Independent.

Red tracer bullets lit up the night sky as air defences tried to shoot down drones over the city centre, an AFP journalist said.

During the attack, people sheltered in subway stations, some lying in sleeping bags and others holding their pets.

A five-storey building in the Darnytsky district collapsed, and a city centre shopping mall was also hit, mayor Vitaly Klitschko said.

The strikes came a day after the Kremlin dismissed the chances of a quick meeting between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kyiv says such a summit is key to breaking the deadlock over how to end the war.

Moscow wants Kyiv to give up more land and drop Western military support as preconditions for a deal. Kyiv has ruled that out.

On Wednesday, Putin’s spokesman said Russia viewed the idea of a European peacekeeping force ‘negatively’. Kyiv says this is vital to stop another Russian attack.

Putin has rejected repeated calls for a ceasefire from Zelensky, Trump and European leaders. Ukraine says Russia only pretends it wants to stop the war.

Russian forces have been slowly gaining ground on the battlefield, where they have more troops and weapons.

Before signing any peace agreement, Ukraine wants Western security guarantees to stop future Russian attacks. Moscow opposes this.

Zelensky’s top aides will meet Trump’s team in New York on Friday to push for strong US support.