Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, was targeted by Russia with missiles and drones on Saturday morning, resulting in the death of one person and injuries to 27 individuals as confirmed by local authorities. The series of attacks, involving ballistic missiles and drones, caused explosions across the city throughout the morning hours and beyond.
The assault occurred just before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Halifax and later with U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida to discuss the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict that has persisted for nearly four years.
During his upcoming discussions with Trump, Zelenskyy intends to address various issues, including security guarantees and territorial concerns in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.
According to the Russian Defence Ministry, the overnight attack on Ukraine was described as a “massive strike” utilizing long-range precision-guided weapons like Kinzhal hypersonic aeroballistic missiles and drones. The ministry alleged that the strike was in retaliation for Ukraine’s alleged attacks on civilian targets in Russia.
Prior to the assault, the Russian military claimed to have shot down seven Ukrainian drones over Krasnodar and Adygeya regions in Russia.
Zelenskyy Condemns Recent Attacks
Following the attacks, Poland took precautionary measures by deploying fighter jets and temporarily closing airports near the Ukrainian border. However, no airspace violations were reported during the Russian offensive.
Zelenskyy criticized Russia’s actions, stating that the attacks were a direct response to the peace negotiations between Ukraine and the U.S. He highlighted the extensive damage caused to residential buildings and infrastructure in Kyiv, resulting in power and heating disruptions in certain areas.
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered his hours-long year-end news conference in which he repeated dubious claims about Ukraine starting the ongoing war between the two countries and also claims Russia is ready for peace.
Zelenskyy emphasized the need for a meaningful dialogue with the U.S. to address critical security concerns and ensure resolution of key issues while upholding Ukraine’s sovereignty.
As a result of the attacks, multiple residential buildings were damaged, leading to evacuations and rescue operations to retrieve individuals trapped under debris.
Witness Describes Horrific Scene
One resident, Olena Karpenko, recounted the harrowing experience of witnessing a man burning to death during the attack, expressing disbelief and sorrow over the tragic incident.
Children were among those wounded in the assault, which affected several locations within Kyiv. The city’s authorities reported casualties and damage to buildings, including fires in residential complexes.
