As dawn broke over Kyiv on August 28, 2025, the city was left reeling from one of the most intense barrages it has faced in recent months. Russian forces unleashed a devastating overnight attack, firing hundreds of missiles and drones that tore through residential neighborhoods and key diplomatic sites. The British Council building and the European Union Delegation in Ukraine were among the most prominent structures damaged, their shattered facades now stark reminders of the escalating violence and its widening international implications.
According to Ukrainian officials, the assault killed at least 18 people—including four children—and injured dozens more. The death toll, which was initially reported as 15 before rising with ongoing rescue efforts, underscored the tragic human cost of the strikes. The city’s emergency services worked through the rubble, searching for survivors and tending to the wounded as Kyiv’s residents tried to process the latest trauma inflicted by the war.
The British Council, a cultural and educational institution with a long-standing presence in Ukraine, was hit hard. Windows were blown out, the entrance was left mangled, and debris littered the surrounding area. A guard stationed at the building was injured but, as Scott McDonald, the British Council’s chief executive, confirmed, was “shaken but stable.” Despite the damage, McDonald praised his team’s resilience, stating, “At the insistence of my amazing colleagues, we will continue operations in Ukraine today wherever possible. Their resilience is awe-inspiring, and I am deeply thankful they are all safe.”
The EU Delegation building, too, was caught in the crossfire. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen revealed that two Russian missiles struck within 50 meters of the site in just 20 seconds. Miraculously, no staff were harmed, and the delegation remains “fully operational” and “open,” according to a spokesperson. Von der Leyen expressed her outrage, calling the attack “another grim reminder of what is at stake,” and vowing to ramp up pressure on Moscow with a forthcoming 19th package of EU sanctions. She also announced plans to mobilize the bloc’s frozen Russian Central Bank assets—estimated at €210 billion—to support Ukraine’s defense and reconstruction.
The response from the United Kingdom was swift and unequivocal. Foreign Secretary David Lammy summoned Russian Ambassador Andrey Kelin to the Foreign Office in Whitehall. Lammy took to social media to declare, “Putin’s strikes last night killed civilians, destroyed homes and damaged buildings, including the British Council and EU Delegation in Kyiv. We have summoned the Russian Ambassador. The killing and destruction must stop.” The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office echoed this condemnation, stating, “Russia’s increasing attacks on Ukrainian civilians and cities, including Kyiv, are an escalation of the war and deeply irresponsible and are further sabotaging international peace efforts.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer also weighed in, describing the strikes as “senseless” and adding, “Putin is killing children and civilians, and sabotaging hopes of peace. This bloodshed must end.” Starmer’s remarks were echoed by opposition and government figures alike, reflecting a rare moment of unity in British politics over the crisis. The British Council, meanwhile, announced that its Kyiv office would be closed to the public until further notice, but emphasized that its work supporting education and cultural ties between the UK and Ukraine would continue uninterrupted.
Across the Channel, the European Union took a similarly hard line. High Representative Kaja Kallas condemned the targeting of diplomatic missions, declaring, “No diplomatic mission should ever be a target.” She formally summoned the Kremlin’s envoy in Brussels, Karen Malayan, for urgent talks. Kallas accused Moscow of deliberately escalating the conflict and “mocking the peace efforts” that much of the world has been pursuing. “While the world seeks a path to peace, Russia responds with missiles,” she said pointedly.
The Vienna Convention of 1961, which mandates protection for diplomatic and consular premises, was cited repeatedly by Western officials. “That cannot remain without consequences,” said Germany’s foreign minister Johann Wadephul, who called for a joint EU response and warned that further action was under consideration. The EU’s plans to mobilize frozen Russian assets, though controversial, signal a new determination to hold Moscow accountable and to bolster Ukraine’s ability to recover and defend itself.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for his part, used the moment to highlight what he sees as the international community’s wavering resolve. “Russia chooses ballistics instead of the negotiating table,” he said. “We expect a response from everyone in the world who has called for peace but now more often stays silent rather than taking principled positions.” Zelenskyy’s frustration was echoed by many Ukrainians, who have long called for more robust support from their Western allies.
Russia, meanwhile, maintained that its strikes were aimed at military sites and air bases, not civilian infrastructure. The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed to have targeted “military air bases and companies within Ukraine’s military-industrial complex” and reported the downing of 102 Ukrainian drones overnight. A Kremlin spokesperson insisted that “the special military operation continues,” but added, “Russia will maintain its interest in continuing the negotiation process in order to achieve the goals we face through political and diplomatic means.”
Yet, for many in Kyiv and across Europe, the reality on the ground tells a different story. The damage to the British Council and EU Delegation buildings is seen as a direct attack on the institutions that symbolize international cooperation and cultural exchange. Colm McGivern, director of the British Council Ukraine, told BBC Radio 4, “I don’t want to speculate on whether or not it was deliberate and intentional for the Russians to attack the British Council. But what I do think was deliberate, and what I do think is intentional, is Russia’s continued attacks on education and cultural infrastructure in Ukraine, attacking schools, attacking theatres, forcing children to learn from bomb shelters, preventing universities from opening fully and teaching their young learners. And the British Council is absolutely determined, steadfastly determined, that we will continue to support education and cultural expression, education and cultural links for Ukraine with the UK, in order to keep those sectors strong.”
The international fallout from the strikes is still unfolding. Ursula von der Leyen held phone calls with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump to discuss the latest wave of attacks. Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, condemned what he called the “egregious attacks” that “threaten the peace” the US president is pursuing. However, Russia has since stated that there are no plans for a direct meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin, despite reports of diplomatic overtures.
As Kyiv mourns its dead and counts the cost of another night of terror, the world is once again confronted with the stark reality of a war that shows no sign of abating. The strikes on diplomatic and cultural institutions have galvanized calls for stronger action—and left many wondering what it will take for peace to become more than a distant hope.
