Russia attacked Kyiv with an hours-long barrage of missiles and drones, killing at least nine people and injuring more than 70. It was the deadliest attack on the Ukrainian capital since July last year and came as peace efforts reached a breaking point.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said after the attack that he was cutting short his official trip to South Africa and returning home as the city endured a bombing that kept residents on edge for about 11 hours.
It was apparently Russia's biggest attack on Kyiv in nine months, and Mr Zelensky described it as “one of the most outrageous (from Russia).”
The attack prompted a rare criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin from US President Donald Trump, who expressed his “displeasure” over it.
“No need, and this is very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP!” Mr. Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
Senior US officials have warned that the Trump administration could soon abandon its efforts to end the war unless both sides compromise.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced that Friday would be an official day of mourning in the capital.
The Ukrainian Air Force said Russia fired 66 ballistic and cruise missiles, four air-to-surface missiles and 145 Shahed drones and decoy drones at Kyiv and four other regions of the country.
Rescuers with flashlights examined the charred ruins of partially destroyed houses, and the blue lights of ambulances illuminated the dark streets of the city.
The attack came as weeks of peace talks appeared to be winding down with no agreement reached, and just hours after Mr Trump criticised Mr Zelensky, accusing him of prolonging the “death field” by refusing to hand over the Russian-occupied Crimea peninsula as part of a potential deal.
For more than three years of war, Mr Zelensky has repeatedly stressed that recognition of the occupied territories as Russian is a red line for his country.
He noted that Ukraine agreed to a US ceasefire proposal 44 days ago as a first step toward a peace deal, but Russia's attacks continue.
In South Africa, he said the latest attack meant the future of the talks “depends on Russia's intentions, because it is in Moscow that they will have to make a decision.”
While negotiations were ongoing in recent weeks, Russia attacked the city of Sumy, resulting in
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
