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In a significant escalation of hostilities, Russia launched a major missile and drone attack on Kyiv, resulting in the deaths of at least eight individuals and injuries to over 70 others. This assault, which ranks as the most severe on the Ukrainian capital this year, caused extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure.
The onslaught ignited numerous fires, with reports indicating that several children were among the injured. Authorities have stated that some victims may still be trapped beneath the debris. “Destruction has occurred, and the search is ongoing for those who remain under the rubble,” the State Emergency Service conveyed via a Telegram message.
Kyiv’s Mayor, Vitali Klitschko, confirmed the death toll of eight, a number that initially had been reported as nine. The most catastrophic impact was felt in the Sviatoshynskyi district, where rescue operations continued to clear debris from two affected buildings.
Images released on social media depicted rescue teams working cautiously through the wreckage, employing floodlights and navigating ladders to assess the damage. Police personnel conducted thorough checks in apartment buildings to ensure all residents were accounted for.
Eyewitness Descriptions of the Assault
Emergency response teams are active at 13 locations throughout Kyiv, utilizing climbing specialists and sniffer dogs in their efforts. Preliminary reports indicate that forty fires erupted as a result of the bombardment.
As rescue workers sift through the rubble, they reported hearing mobile phones ringing beneath the debris, underscoring the urgency of their search operations. “The search will persist until we can confirm that everyone has been accounted for,” authorities stated.
A Kyiv resident, Viktoria Bakal, recounted her harrowing experience during the attack, stating, “The air raid sirens sounded, and we barely had time to dress before rushing out. The blasts came one after another, shattering windows and walls; my husband and son were thrown across the room.”
According to Ukraine’s air force, the overnight assault involved the launch of 145 drones along with 70 missiles, including 11 ballistic missiles. Ukrainian air defense forces managed to intercept and destroy 112 of these targets.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko indicated that besides Kyiv and its vicinity, seven additional regions were also subjected to extensive attacks.
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, faced a barrage of missile and drone strikes, as Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported multiple assaults on various locations. The city suffered attacks 14 times from drones and ten from missiles, with damage occurring to residential buildings, a city polyclinic, a school, and other sites; one individual was hospitalized.
In the Zhytomyr region, west of Kyiv, officials reported that Russian forces targeted rescue crews responding to a fire, leading to injuries among emergency personnel. Meanwhile, in the industrial city of Pavlohrad, 14 apartment buildings were reported damaged, although no injuries were recorded in that area.
Context of Diplomatic Strain
This surge in violence unfolds at a pivotal juncture in Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine, which escalated following Moscow’s full-scale invasion initiated in 2022. Both Kyiv and Moscow are facing mounting pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to make progress toward a peace agreement.
Trump’s administration has indicated a willingness to withdraw from negotiations if advancements are not achieved, prompting European nations to explore alternative methods to assist Kyiv. Diplomatic engagements that were meant to address the conflict experienced setbacks recently when U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio canceled his trip to London, leading to the downgrading of ongoing talks involving U.S., Ukrainian, and European stakeholders.
Although discussions held on Wednesday had reportedly made “significant progress,” the sudden withdrawal of U.S. participation altered the momentum of the negotiations. In light of recent events, Trump expressed frustration towards Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for perceived stagnation in the peace talks, particularly after Zelenskyy reaffirmed Ukraine’s stance against recognizing Russia’s annexation of Crimea as part of any potential agreement.
Zelenskyy emphasized on Tuesday that acknowledging Crimea as part of Russia would violate Ukraine’s constitution and reiterated the nation’s commitment to seeking an unqualified ceasefire. Conversely, Russia has accused Zelenskyy of hampering diplomatic efforts, reinforcing its position against negotiations.
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, remarked that developments were indicating a growing realization of Zelenskyy’s inability to negotiate a resolution to the conflict. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha countered this narrative, asserting that the recent “brutal strikes” in Kyiv exemplified Russia as the principal barrier to establishing peace.
As of now, there has been no comment from Russian officials regarding the overnight attacks and their implications.
Source
www.cbc.ca