Russia launched a massive bombing attack on Kyiv early Thursday, just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for rejecting a proposed peace deal that would recognize Russia’s control over Crimea.
As of 11 a.m., the Prosecutor General’s Office confirmed eight deaths, with reports indicating that more people may still be trapped beneath the rubble.
The State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported over 70 injuries, with at least 42 people hospitalized, including six children.
This attack was one of the largest aerial assaults on Kyiv in months, involving both missiles and drones. Emergency services also reported that approximately 40 fires were extinguished across nine Ukrainian regions.
The combined assault hit Kyiv hardest, with additional attacks impacting the Zhytomyr, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Poltava, Khmelnytskyi, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Zelenskyy, who had arrived in South Africa for a meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa, announced plans to cut his visit short and return to Ukraine immediately after the meeting. “The Foreign Minister of Ukraine will continue necessary meetings in South Africa to keep the political and civil society leaders informed about the situation,” Zelenskyy stated.
Russia’s strikes come as Zelenskyy faces increasing political pressure, particularly from Trump, who is urging Ukraine to accept the U.S.-proposed peace deal, which is seen as favorable to Moscow.
Trump criticized Zelenskyy on Wednesday for not acknowledging Russia’s control of Crimea as part of the proposed settlement. “Zelenskyy’s inflammatory statements are making it harder to settle this war. He has nothing to boast about!” Trump said.
In response, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha emphasized that Russia’s aggressive actions, not Ukraine’s position, were hindering peace efforts. “Yesterday’s Russian demands for Ukraine to withdraw from its regions, coupled with these brutal strikes, make it clear that Russia, not Ukraine, is the obstacle to peace. Moscow, not Kyiv, is where the pressure should be applied,” Sybiha stated.