Russia bombs central Kyiv as world leaders gather in Europe for G7 summit

Russia has stepped up air strikes on Ukraine over the weekend, which has also seen the fall of a strategic eastern city to pro-Russian forces

‘It’s more of their barbarism,’ said US President Joe Biden, referring to Russia’s missile strikes on Kyiv, as world leaders gathered in Germany for the G7 summit

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Smoke rises after a missile strike in Kyiv, which had begun returning to normal. Photo: Reuters

Published: 5:23pm, 26 Jun 2022Updated: 7:45am, 27 Jun 2022

Russian missiles struck a block of flats and close to a kindergarten in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Sunday, in strikes US President Joe Biden condemned as “barbarism” as world leaders gathered in Europe to discuss further sanctions against Moscow.

Up to four explosions shook central Kyiv in the early hours, in the first such attack on the city in weeks.

“The Russians hit Kyiv again. Missiles damaged an apartment building and a kindergarten,” said Andriy Yermak, head of the president’s administration.

A crater is seen at a compound of a kindergarten after a Russian missile strike in Kyiv, Ukraine on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

A Reuters photographer saw a large blast crater by a playground in a kindergarten that had smashed windows.

Deputy Mayor Mykola Povoroznyk said one person was killed and six wounded. He said explosions heard later in other parts of Kyiv were air defences destroying further incoming missiles.

Russia has stepped up air strikes on Ukraine over the weekend, which has also seen the fall of a strategic eastern city to pro-Russian forces.

“It’s more of their barbarism,” said Biden, referring to the missile strikes on Kyiv, as leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) rich democracies gathered for a summit in Germany.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said G7 countries should respond to the latest missile strikes by imposing further sanctions on Russia and providing more heavy weapons to Ukraine.