At least 12 people have been killed and more than 90 have been injured on Kyiv after Russia carried out one of the most devastating air attacks on Ukraine for several months.
The attack sparked a rare responsibilities from Donald Trump, who posted on social media. “Vladimir, stop!”
Drone waves and ballistic and guided missiles struck the Ukrainian capital early on Thursday. The majority of the night, which began at about 1am local time, saw explosions and anti-aircraft fire rattles as Ukrainian defenses tried to shoot down missiles.
Kiev mayor Vitali Klitschko said rescuers were attracting survivors from under the roof tiled rub. The injured included six children and a pregnant woman. He said his homes, cars and other buildings are on fire, and there is great damage caused by falling debris in some districts.
“Russia has launched a massive attack on Kiev,” the Ukrainian Regional emergency services said in a telegram.
Ukrainian Home Minister Ihol Klimenko said there is a major rescue operation underway in Kiev’s Sviatsinsky district, which involves dogs and engineering teams. “You can hear your phone ringing under the ruins. The search continues until everyone appears. There is information about two children that are not found at the scene of the incident,” he added.
On Wednesday evening, the drones were seen flying over the forest, bustling with the sky above the northeastern Khalkiv area. Ukraine’s second city, Kharkiv, was struck by seven missiles and 12 Kamikaze drones on strike all night long as black smoke plunged overhead.
According to the mayor of Kharkiv, several blocks of private homes, factories and high-rise apartments were attacked. “One of the recent strikes hit a residential area with a large population, where two people were injured,” Ihor Terekhov urged people to warn him.
Thursday’s Trump Posted On the true society: “I am not satisfied with the Russian strike in Kiev. Not necessary, very bad timing. Vladimir, stop! 5,000 soldiers are dying per week. Let’s end the peace agreement!”
The day before he assaulted with Voldymir Zelensky because he did not support the US “peace plan” in which Crimea and other Ukrainian territory was handed over to Russia.
On Wednesday, Trump accused the Ukrainian president of extending the “killing sector” and making a “very harmful” statement. Zelensky excludes recognition of Crimea as a Russian and says a complete ceasefire is necessary before the settlement is debated.
On Thursday, Zelensky said he was shortening his trip to South Africa due to the attack. “It’s been 44 days since Ukraine agreed to a complete ceasefire and a halt of strikes. And for 44 days in Russia, we’ve continued to kill our people,” Zelensky said in a post on X.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andry Sibiga said Russia’s “highest demand for Ukraine to withdraw from the region, combined with these brutal strikes, shows that Russia, not Ukraine, is a barrier to peace.”
He added: “Moscow, not Kiev, is a place to put pressure on. Putin, through his actions rather than words, he just wants to continue the war without respecting the efforts of peace. Wisdom and concessions will not stop him from terrifying and attacking.
Posting on social media when the Russian bomb fell around them, Ukrainians criticized Trump’s one-sided approach and his apparent indifference to Ukrainian civilian casualties. The massive attacks suggested that the Kremlin had no remote interest in peace, they suggested.
Olga RudenkoThe editor of the Kiev Independent Newspaper wrote on social media: “After discussing and editing and editing the US report that effectively demands Ukraine’s surrender, I can’t hear of a very large Russian missile + drone attack and explain how surreal it is to be sitting on the floor in the safest place in my apartment.”
Euan MacDonaldthe freelance journalist added: “Kiev’s Great Big Bang, and another – the incoming missile. Schedes is also in the city and just heard anti-aircraft guns.
There were further attacks in the cities of Pablo Harad and Zhytomyr, as well as in the Zaporizhzhia region.
In Kiev, some residents spend sleepless nights on the subway and double as missile shelters. According to Photographer Kostyantyn LiberovShahed Drone attacked the same district twice where rescuers and civilians were trying to free a young woman trapped in a collapsed building.
“Honey, we’ll let you out no matter what you do. We’re here,” one of the rescuers reassured her.
Videographer Anton Stuka; People who filmed difficult rescue operationssaid: “Sometimes it appears that these strikes have hit our homes. [Vladimir] Putin feels our support and begins to put more pressure on Ukraine. “Ironically, he added: “Thank you, partner.”
Kiev was last hit by a missile in early April when at least three people were injured. Since Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022, it has been a target for sporadic attacks.
Andriy Yermak, head of Zelenksyy’s office, said, “Putin only shows his desire to kill. The attacks on civilians must cease.”
