• Russian drone and missile attacks killed at least 31 people, including five children, in Kyiv on July 31.
• The attacks injured over 150 individuals; rescue operations continue amidst rampant destruction.
• Ukraine's President Zelensky and other leaders demand stronger international sanctions against Russia.

Overnight on July 31, Kyiv faced a harrowing barrage of Russian drone and missile strikes that resulted in at least 31 deaths, including five children, and left approximately 159 injured, according to local officials. President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated that this incident marks one of the deadliest attacks on the capital since the start of Russia’s large-scale invasion nearly three and a half years ago, further escalating the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. Rescue teams recovered numerous bodies from the rubble of a partially collapsed nine-story apartment building in the Sviatoshyn district, where extensive damage occurred across at least three districts of the city, as detailed by Reuters and BBC.

Eyewitness accounts reflect the chaos and destruction experienced by affected residents. Natalia Matviyenko, a witness near the damage, expressed skepticism over external pressures on Russia, stating, “Trump just says, 'I'm upset with President Putin's behaviour.' And what? No results,” as reported by Reuters and TRT Global. The Ukrainian military reported that Russia launched over 300 drones and eight missiles, intensifying its assaults on Ukrainian cities despite international calls for a ceasefire.

In response to the attacks, President Zelensky reiterated his calls for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and urged allies to ramp up military support for Ukraine. “More weapons for Ukraine and tougher sanctions on Russia are the fastest way to end the war,” stated EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, as reported by India Times and BBC.

A day of mourning has been declared in Kyiv as the city grapples with the aftermath of these devastating strikes. U.S. President Donald Trump condemned the attacks, stating, “I think it's disgusting what they're doing,” while emphasizing the necessity for increased sanctions if no ceasefire is reached by August 8. These ongoing events underscore the urgent human toll and the continued escalation of military conflict in Ukraine, according to Reuters and India Times.