Russian military bombards Ukrainian government structure in Kyiv, marking the first instance in the ongoing conflict

In a significant escalation of attacks on official government infrastructure, Russia targeted a Ukrainian government building in the capital city of Ukraine with an Iskander ballistic missile on Sunday.

The impact of the missile triggered a rapidly spreading fire, causing "very quickly" for the fire services to respond and contain the blaze. According to Andriy Danyk, head of the Ukrainian State Emergency Service, the attack resulted in multiple casualties.

The nature of the damage to the structure was described as a "gaping hole" by the European Union's ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernova, who inspected the damage and observed missile remnants at the site. The attack damaged approximately 800 to 900 square meters of the building.

Remarkably, the missile failed to fully detonate, preventing complete destruction of the structure. This was the first time the Iskander missile struck a government building in Ukraine's capital. The Iskander missile, a short-range ballistic missile system, has been previously deployed by Russian forces against various Ukrainian targets.

Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, confirmed the unprecedented targeting of government facilities and discussed the attack with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The discussions were in relation to a potential ceasefire agreement.

Ukraine renewed calls for international partners to impose additional economic sanctions on Moscow due to the casualties. Yermak also discussed both sanctions enforcement and security guarantees with Rubio.

The strike occurred during Russia's largest coordinated drone and missile assault since the war's start in February 2022. The attack marked a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, raising concerns about the potential for further escalation and the safety of civilians in the region.