WASHINGTON -- Russia carried out one of its largest attacks on Ukraine's capital this year, reigniting demands in the United States and Europe for tougher military and economic measures against Moscow.Ukrainian officials said at least 27 people were killed and scores of others wounded in the large-scale attack on Kyiv on July 2, which caused fires and extensive damage to civilian infrastructure and residential buildings across several districts.The scale of the assault drew swift condemnation from lawmakers in Washington, where debate over future aid to Ukraine remains politically fraught.
Lawmakers Push For More Military AidRepublican Joe Wilson of South Carolina, a longtime backer of US support for Ukraine, called the strikes further proof that the Kremlin is faltering militarily."This horrible war crime is yet more evidence that Russia is badly losing its war," Wilson told RFE/RL. "The USA and its allies should do even more of what it's doing. The strategy is working. Russia is losing."Russia launched a full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine in 2022 expecting to take Kyiv in a matter of weeks. But Ukraine, with backing from the West, has fought Russian forces to a near stalemate.Wilson also framed the July 2 attack as a signal ahead of next week's NATO summit in Turkey, where support for Ukraine is expected to be high on the agenda.
