Abuja: Russia attacked Kyiv on Thursday with an hour-long barrage of missiles and drones, killing nine people and injuring more than 70. This was said to be the deadliest assault on the Ukrainian capital since July 2024, and just as peace efforts are coming to a head.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after the attack that he was cutting short his official trip to South Africa and returning home as the city reeled from the bombardment that kept residents on edge for about 11 hours. Zelenskyy stated that this appeared to be Russia's biggest attack on Kyiv in nine months and labeled it as one of Russia's 'most outrageous.'
The attack drew a rare rebuke of Russian President Vladimir Putin from U.S. President Donald Trump, who expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation. Trump stated, 'Not necessary, and terrible timing. Vladimir, STOP!' on his social media platform, Truth Social. However, senior U.S. officials have cautioned that the Trump administration might soon abandon its efforts to halt the war if the two sides do not reach a compromise.
Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko announced that Friday would be an official day of mourning in the capital. The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia fired 66 ballistic and cruise missiles, four plane-launched air-to-surface missiles, and 145 Shahed and decoy drones at Kyiv and four other regions of Ukraine. Rescue workers with flashlights searched through the charred rubble of partly collapsed homes as the blue lights of emergency vehicles illuminated the dark city streets.
The attack occurred as weeks of peace negotiations seemed to conclude without an agreement. Reports also indicated that the attack happened hours after Trump criticized Zelenskyy. Trump had accused Zelenskyy of prolonging the conflict by refusing to surrender the Russia-occupied Crimea Peninsula as part of a potential deal.