Russian Missile, Drone Attack Kills 31 in Kyiv, Wounds 159

A deadly Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv on July 31 has resulted in at least 31 deaths, including five children, and injured 159 people, many of them children. The attack, described by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as "vile" and "despicable," caused extensive destruction, including the collapse of a nine-story residential building in the Sviatoshynskyi district. Despite Ukraine's air defenses shooting down most of the 309 drones and eight missiles launched, multiple cruise missiles hit residential buildings and schools, leaving widespread damage. Rescuers have been working through the rubble, recovering bodies and searching for missing residents, with the death toll expected to potentially rise. Zelenskyy called for increased international pressure and sanctions on Moscow, a sentiment echoed by EU officials and supported by U.S. President Donald Trump, who condemned the attacks and set a 10 to 12-day ultimatum for Russia to halt the invasion or face stricter sanctions. The city of Kyiv observed a day of mourning, highlighting the human toll and ongoing conflict in Ukraine's fourth year of war.