Ukraine’s MFA urges strong international response after Russia’s August 28 strike

Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Ministry shared the corresponding post on Facebook.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry emphasized that the Russian aggressor struck Ukraine using 629 aerial attack means, namely: 

• 598 strike Shahed UAVs and various types of UAV simulators, 

• 2 aeroballistic Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missiles, 

• 9 ballistic Iskander‑M/KN‑23 missiles, 

• 20 Kh‑101 cruise missiles. 

As a result of the strikes residential buildings were destroyed, people were killed — including children — and many were wounded.

“The youngest child killed was not even three years old. She was born during Russian shelling in October 2022 and died from a Russian strike in August 2025. The killing and wounding of children is the gravest crime that requires the harshest punishment. The international community cannot remain a silent witness to the murder of children by Russian criminals. Every country, every leader, every international organization must respond resolutely to this barbarity with a principled public stance and concrete actions,” the diplomatic service stressed.

They added that the latest massive terrorist strike on Ukraine demonstrates that the Russian Federation completely disregards the efforts of the world community to restore a comprehensive, just, and sustainable peace.

“It is especially cynical that Putin ignores the peace process initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump. Putin refuses to hold a direct meeting with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and shows unwillingness to take real steps on the diplomatic path to settlement. The Russian Federation again shows the world that it remains the single obstacle to peace. Russia is a terrorist state, and we call on all states and international organizations to clearly record this status,” the MFA said.

The ministry noted that during the attack Russia damaged the building of the European Union Delegation to Ukraine.

“This is a gross violation of the fundamental principles of international law, in particular the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, and an unacceptable attack on a diplomatic mission. Such actions require decisive condemnation and appropriate measures by the entire international community,” the ministry added.

The MFA called on all states of the world to condemn this latest act of Russian terror against Ukraine and the deliberate killing of civilians by Russian forces, especially children, and to take concrete steps to stop these atrocities.

“We expect a strong, practical response from the entire international community, including countries of Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and the Indo‑Pacific region — which have repeatedly called for peace, restraint and a ceasefire — to force the Russian Federation to stop the killings,” the statement reads.

The MFA also urged participants of the 25th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (31 August – 1 September) to express a clear position regarding this strike and to show that they respect the principles of international law, do not tolerate Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine, and do not tolerate the killing of Ukrainian children.

“We call on partners to urgently provide Ukraine with additional air defense capabilities to protect Ukrainian skies, long‑range strike means to hit Russian military facilities that the aggressor uses to attack our state, and additional packages of military assistance. We urge increased pressure on the Russian Federation. This includes imposing additional powerful sanctions, including the swift adoption of the European Union’s 19th sanctions package, the full disconnection of the Russian Federation from international financial systems, and sanctions against the oil‑tanker ‘shadow fleet’; the introduction of powerful tariffs that will strike the Russian war economy and make further financing of Russia’s war impossible; the strengthening of personal sanctions against the Russian military‑political leadership; and measures to prevent sanction evasion,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized.

They stressed that the Russian Federation openly ignores all peaceful efforts and only intensifies its terror.

“A complete and unconditional ceasefire remains the most effective step for the success of diplomacy on the road to peace. As long as Moscow continues to respond to the world’s peaceful initiatives with such missile strikes, only the approach of ‘peace through strength’ can bring an end to the war. Such a policy implies supporting Ukraine and applying diplomatic, economic, and military pressure on Russia. This approach can force Putin to stop the terror and sit at the negotiating table to achieve a comprehensive, just, and sustainable peace,” the diplomatic service said.

The MFA also stressed that, to prevent a recurrence of aggression, effective, legally binding, and reliable security guarantees for Ukraine are necessary.

“We also stress the importance of punishing the aggressor, including condemnation by a Special Tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine of the highest political leadership of the Russian Federation. Restoring respect for international law, including the UN Charter — an integral part of which is respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders — will send a signal to the world that aggression is not rewarded but punished,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concluded.

• On the evening of 27 August, the Russian army launched strike UAVs against Ukrainian territory; later missile launches were reported. In Kyiv, there were casualties as a result of the attack. Eighteen people were killed, including four children.

• As a result of the Russian attack in Kyiv the buildings of the European Union Delegation and the British Council were damaged.