Kyiv missile and drone attack death toll rises to 18; EU pledges more sanctions

Russia launched a significant combined missile and drone assault on Ukraine on July 2, with Kyiv being the primary target. The attack involved 74 missiles and 496 uncrewed aerial vehicles. In Kyiv, the death toll has risen to 18, and 85 individuals, including two children, sustained injuries. Extensive damage was reported across the capital, with a residential building in the Darnytskyi district particularly affected. EU Ambassador to Ukraine, Katarína Mathernová, characterized the assault as "real hell," noting that a diplomatic residential area was among the targets. The European Union's External Action Service has pledged to increase sanctions on Moscow and continue military support for Ukraine, specifically in air defense and drones. Separately, a guided aerial bomb strike in the Dnipropetrovsk region resulted in the death of a 7-year-old girl and injuries to four others, including an 11-year-old child. Sources: Українська правда, Громадське, Радіо Свобода