US President Donald Trump has denounced Russia for launching a massive air strike in the Ukrainian capital overnight and called for a peace deal to sign.
Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky shortened his diplomatic visit to South Africa after launching a massive airstrike in Kiev, the capital city where Russia is said to have killed at least nine people.
The Ukrainian government said the strike lasted 11 hours on Wednesday night, with hundreds of missiles and drones involved, and is the most important to the capital since nine months ago, July 2024. Air strikes on Kiev itself were relatively rare in the later stages of the war, as the capital has relatively good air defenses and Russia is more focused on the frontlines and cities.
At least dozens of people may still be missing, dead or alive, but Kiev city government, trapped under the tile rub, said at least nine people have been killed and 80 have been injured. Of these, 31 people were hospitalized, including five children.
US President Donald Trump, who recently expressed his anger and frustration in both Russia and Ukraine, responded to the air raids in a social media statement, calling for Russia by saying he was dragging the peace process out. He said: “I am not satisfied with the Russian strike against Kiev. It is not necessary, very bad timing. Vladimir, stop!”
Noting that 5,000 soldiers are killed in the battle a week, President Trump said, “Let’s make a peace deal!”
The marathon air strike began when Ukrainian President Zelensky arrived in South Africa last night for a diplomatic tour. Keeping in mind the strength of Russia’s strike, Zelensky said he will return home early Thursday after holding a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Speaking from South Africa, Zelensky said Ukraine has already agreed to a ceasefire as mediated by the US, and it is Russia that continues to launch strikes against civilians. Russia accused Kiev of “propaganda” this morning, claiming it was intended as a military target within Ukraine.
President Zelensky continued. “Nearly 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles and around 150 attack drones. Unfortunately, rescue operations are underway and tile bleeds on residential buildings are being settled. At this moment, more than 80 people were injured throughout Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Air Force Command said it had attacked strikes against Kiev and seven other Ukrainian regions overnight to track 215 air force targets. They said that 215 missiles and drones were detected, 48 missiles and 64 drones were destroyed, and another 68 were reduced without causing damage. The numbers mean that around 35 missiles have passed through the shield.
Among the weapons detected when it was launched against Ukraine were 11 “Iskander” ballistic missiles, 37 ‘Kodiak’ aerial launch cruise missiles, 12 ‘kalibir’ missiles, and 145 ‘shahed’ type attack drones.
