Russia launched one of its largest aerial assaults of the war on Kyiv overnight, killing more than 20 people and wounding dozens more in a barrage that hit residential buildings and civilian infrastructure across the Ukrainian capital, officials said Thursday. Ukraine’s air force said Russian forces fired dozens of missiles alongside hundreds of drones during an assault that lasted roughly 11 hours, sending residents into metro stations and shelters for a second night in a row. Emergency crews were still searching rubble for survivors by midday. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy toured a damaged apartment block in the capital and said the strike destroyed dozens of units and killed several residents there alone. He renewed his appeal to Washington for permission to produce Patriot air-defense missiles domestically, arguing that reliable protection for Ukrainian cities can no longer depend solely on imported systems, and suggested European partners could help build production capacity that would also benefit U.S. industry. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged Ukraine’s allies to move quickly on strengthening air defenses and imposing further costs on Moscow, saying the scale of the attack demanded action rather than statements of condemnation. In Washington, the strikes drew renewed criticism from both parties. Some lawmakers characterized the attack as evidence of Russian desperation on the battlefield, while others faulted the Trump administration for what they called a slow response to Kyiv’s requests for additional weapons. European Union officials said the bloc was weighing another round of sanctions against Russia in response to the attack. The Kremlin gave no indication it would change course. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Moscow intends to keep up pressure on Kyiv to achieve its objectives, while Russia’s defense ministry said the strikes targeted military-industrial sites in the capital. The attack comes days before a NATO summit in Turkey, where continued support for Ukraine is expected to be high on the agenda more than four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion. support@paulkizitoblog.com

Depression doesn’t announce itself politely. It creeps into the small things first — the shower that feels like too much effort, the phone calls you keep meaning to return, the hobbies that used to bring you joy but now just sit there, untouched. For anyone who has lived through it, or is living through it now, one thing becomes clear fast: depression is not a mood you can simply decide to shake off. But it is something you can move through, with the right support, patience, and tools. support@paulkizitoblog.com

Two weeks ago, the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding meant to end a war that began on February 28, when the US and Israel launched surprise strikes on Iran. The deal opened a 60-day window to hammer out a permanent settlement — covering Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief, and the future of one of the world’s most important shipping lanes, the Strait of Hormuz. support@paulkizitoblog.com

Pop superstar Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce are set to marry this Friday, July 3, at Madison Square Garden in Midtown Manhattan, with the city already buzzing ahead of what is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched celebrity weddings in years. support@paulkizitoblog.com