In a shocking turn of events, Russia initiated a wave of deadly attacks targeting Kyiv early Thursday morning. This escalation comes just hours after former US President Donald Trump publicly accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of undermining peace talks between the two nations. The coordinated drone and missile strikes hit 13 locations throughout the Ukrainian capital, resulting in at least nine fatalities and injuring over 70 individuals, as reported by Ukraine’s emergency services.
In the aftermath of these devastating attacks, President Zelensky made the decision to cut short his visit to South Africa. He had arrived there late Wednesday, but the gravity of the situation in Ukraine necessitated his immediate return. Reports from CNN producers in Kyiv indicated that air raid sirens could be heard throughout the city for approximately six hours during the early morning hours of Thursday.
Images released by emergency services depicted buildings engulfed in flames in the aftermath of the strikes. Ihor Klymenko, Ukraine’s interior minister, reported that rescue workers and engineers were actively searching for individuals believed to be trapped beneath the rubble of a home that had been destroyed in the Sviatoshyn district. "There is information about two children who still cannot be found at the scene," Klymenko stated, describing the situation as “tragic.”
The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, urged residents to seek shelter as the situation unfolded. Although an all-clear message was later broadcast by the Kyiv city military administration, the impact of the attacks was severe, with at least 42 people requiring hospitalization, including six children, according to emergency services data. Klymenko further highlighted that eight regions of Ukraine were targeted in what he described as “a massive combined Russian attack,” affecting cities such as Zhytomyr, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Poltava, Khmelnytsky, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched a staggering total of 70 missiles and 145 drones during the overnight assault on Wednesday, specifically targeting Kyiv. Among these, five ballistic missiles managed to breach Ukraine’s air defenses, raising alarms regarding the effectiveness of the country's protective measures. "It is extremely important that everyone around the world sees and understands what is really happening," said President Zelensky, emphasizing the need for Ukraine to enhance its air defenses in light of these recent attacks. He called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, stating, “The strikes must be stopped immediately and unconditionally.”
The timing of these attacks is particularly notable, as they followed a public disagreement between Trump and Zelensky concerning the future of Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula that was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014. As part of ongoing peace negotiations aimed at resolving the three-year conflict, the US administration has reportedly proposed recognizing Russian control over Crimea, a move that would reverse a decade of US policy.
This potential shift in policy has raised concerns about undermining the post-World War II consensus that borders should not be altered through force. Zelensky has firmly stated that Ukraine will not accept such a proposal, as it contradicts the nation’s constitution. On Wednesday, Trump criticized Zelensky's stance, declaring it “very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia.” He further described Zelensky’s comments as “inflammatory” and claimed they complicate efforts to settle the ongoing war.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, Vice President JD Vance hinted at the possibility of abandoning negotiations, stating during a visit to India that a “very explicit proposal” had been presented to both Russia and Ukraine. He emphasized that it was time for the two nations to respond or for the US to consider withdrawing from the talks. Earlier diplomatic efforts involving Ukraine, the US, Britain, France, and Germany were downgraded to discussions among officials after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio withdrew from the negotiations.
As tensions escalate, Zelensky expressed concern over the emotional volatility surrounding the situation, which has introduced uncertainty into the diplomatic endeavors aimed at ending the war. In a related development, Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration’s Middle East envoy, is expected to visit Moscow on Friday for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
