In a significant escalation of hostilities, Russia attacked Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, with a barrage of missiles and drones early Saturday morning. The assault resulted in the tragic death of one individual and left 27 others injured, as confirmed by local authorities. This attack occurred just a day before crucial discussions between Ukraine and the United States were scheduled to take place.
The assault on Kyiv began in the early hours of Saturday and continued as dawn broke over the city. Residents experienced prolonged periods of chaos, with explosions reverberating throughout the capital. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was preparing to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida the following day to discuss strategies for ending the ongoing conflict, which has persisted for nearly four years.
Zelenskyy shared with reporters that he was en route to Florida on Saturday afternoon, with a planned stop in Canada to meet Prime Minister Mark Carney. The discussions with Trump are expected to cover essential topics, including security guarantees and territorial disputes in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed responsibility for what it described as a “massive strike,” utilizing “long-range precision-guided weapons from land, air, and sea, including Kinzhal hypersonic aeroballistic missiles” along with drones. The ministry asserted that the target of this strike was the energy infrastructure critical to Ukraine's military operations and industrial capabilities. Furthermore, they claimed that this attack was a response to Ukraine's assaults on “civilian objects” within Russia's borders.
In reaction to the heightened tensions, Poland took precautionary measures by scrambling fighter jets and temporarily closing airports in Lublin and Rzeszow, which are located near the Ukrainian border. The country’s armed forces command confirmed that no Polish airspace violations occurred during the Russian attacks. Civil aviation authority Pansa announced that operations at both airports were resumed shortly thereafter.
According to Ukraine’s air force, the assault involved a staggering 519 drones and 40 missiles, with Kyiv’s energy and civilian infrastructure being the primary targets. President Zelenskyy noted that many districts in the region were left without electricity or heating due to the strikes. “Today, Russia demonstrated how it responds to peace talks between Ukraine and the United States on ending Russia’s war against Ukraine,” he remarked, indicating that the timing of the attacks was a clear message from Moscow.
The ramifications of the attack were devastating. Over ten residential buildings sustained significant damage, as reported by Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko on Telegram. Emergency responders worked tirelessly to rescue individuals trapped under the debris of collapsed structures. One witness, 52-year-old Olena Karpenko, recounted the horrifying experience of hearing a man screaming as he was engulfed in flames, a memory that will haunt her for years to come.
According to Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv Military Administration, two children were among the injured, and a body was recovered from the rubble of a damaged building. The attack affected multiple locations throughout Kyiv, with a fire erupting in an 18-story residential building in the Dnipro district, prompting emergency services to respond swiftly.
As President Zelenskyy prepares for his meeting with Trump, he emphasized the need to resolve as many outstanding issues as possible while maintaining Ukraine’s "red lines." He expressed confidence that there are potential compromise proposals but acknowledged that Russia also has its objectives in this conflict.
Zelenskyy highlighted that the primary focus of their discussions would be on security guarantees for Ukraine. The U.S. has made commitments that align with NATO's Article 5, which stipulates that an attack on Ukraine would trigger a collective military response from the U.S. and its allies. However, critical details of this agreement require further clarification.
Territorial concessions remain one of the most sensitive issues on the agenda, particularly concerning the disputed Donetsk region and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Zelenskyy firmly reiterated that Ukraine would never recognize any territory as Russian under any circumstances, emphasizing that security guarantees are crucial for the nation’s future.
Additionally, Zelenskyy is scheduled to brief European leaders online regarding the outcomes of his discussions with Trump, further solidifying international support for Ukraine.