Russia has been accused of directly targeting the Ukrainian government with a cluster-armed ballistic missile, in what diplomats are calling a deliberate and chilling escalation of the war.

European Union Ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernová, confirmed the attack struck the Cabinet of Ministers building in Kyiv, describing firsthand the scene of devastation after visiting the site alongside other foreign diplomats.

“I saw it with my own eyes,” Mathernová said. “Putin knows exactly what he’s doing. The Iskander missile that struck the Cabinet of Ministers was aimed squarely at the heart of Ukraine’s government.”

According to the ambassador, the missile carried cluster munitions, a particularly controversial weapon banned under international treaties by more than 100 countries—but notably not by Russia or Ukraine.

“We were shown sizeable remnants of the missile itself,” she said, “and a multitude of deadly shrapnel from the embedded cluster munition. It left a gaping hole in the roof. If it had fully detonated, the entire building would have been reduced to rubble.”

A Targeted Strike on Ukraine’s Sovereignty

The attack is being viewed as a direct attempt to cripple Ukraine’s governance and send a violent message to Kyiv and its allies. Mathernová called it part of Russia’s systematic campaign to destroy Ukraine’s core institutions.

“The evidence of this existential battle is right in front of us. Putin is deliberately targeting the country’s lifelines—its government, its energy systems, and its people,” she said.

The Ukrainian government has not yet confirmed casualty figures from the attack, but security officials say multiple people were injured. Emergency services responded quickly to stabilize the site.

US Sanctions: Strong Rhetoric, Weak Action?

As the international community reacts, pressure is mounting on Washington to move beyond statements of condemnation.

Former President Donald Trump, who recently declared support for a new wave of sanctions against Russia, has faced criticism for inconsistencies between his rhetoric and policy.

“Trump’s sanctions rhetoric often clashes with reality,” said Oleksandr Talavera, professor of financial economics at the University of Birmingham. “Many of his past threats against Russia and its partners have not been implemented.”

Talavera warned that Trump’s so-called “Phase Two” of sanctions could be more symbolic than substantive, noting delays in passing legislation such as the Sanctioning Russia Act, which proposes tariffs of up to 500% on nations buying Russian energy.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a co-sponsor of the bill, has called for urgent action, but internal divisions and diplomatic hesitancy have stalled progress—raising questions about the West’s resolve to punish Moscow meaningfully.