Russia’s territorial gains increased for a fourth straight month in July, according to data analysis, as EU foreign policy chief calls airstrike ‘depraved’. What we know on day 1,256
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The death toll from Russia’s worst airstrike of the year on Ukraine’s capital rose to 31 on Friday after rescuers recovered more than a dozen more bodies from the rubble of a collapsed apartment block in Kyiv overnight. A two-year-old was among the five children found dead after Thursday’s Russian drone and missile attack, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said on Friday, announcing the end of the rescue operation. A total of 159 people were wounded in the strikes, which saw Russia launch more than 300 drones and eight missiles early on Thursday.
The EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, described Thursday’s attacks as “depraved” and posted a picture of the bloc’s flag at half mast. “More weapons for Ukraine and tougher sanctions on Russia are the fastest way to end the war. Getting more air defences to Ukraine fast is our priority,” she added in a post. Zelenskyy has been appealing to allies for more air defence systems and on Friday, Germany said it would soon start delivering two more US-made Patriot launchers to Ukraine. Germany has already delivered three Patriot systems to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
