Russian Strikes on Kyiv Leave 9 Dead, 70 Injured as Peace Talks Stumble Amid Trump’s Criticism of Zelenskyy

Kyiv: In a devastating escalation of the ongoing conflict, Russian strikes on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv have claimed the lives of at least nine people, with 70 others suffering serious injuries. The attacks, which included drones and ballistic missiles, began around 1:00 am local time, causing extensive damage across multiple residential buildings. Emergency rescue operations are still underway, as search teams sift through the rubble to recover trapped civilians.

The Kyiv City Military Administration reported that at least 45 drones were detected in the airstrike, with the Ukraine Air Force expected to provide updated figures. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service confirmed that 42 people have been hospitalized so far, and authorities are bracing for more casualties as rescue operations continue through the night.

One of the most harrowing scenes unfolded in a residential area where an elderly woman was found in shock, sitting against a brick wall with her face smeared in blood. Nearby, emergency workers successfully rescued a woman trapped under debris, her body covered in dust and her moans of pain heard as she emerged from the wreckage.

The attacks come at a tense time for Ukraine, as peace negotiations with Russia appear to be faltering. Hours before the strikes, US President Donald Trump lashed out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accusing him of prolonging the war by rejecting the idea of ceding Crimea to Russia as part of a potential peace agreement. Trump suggested that it has been “harder” to negotiate with Zelenskyy than with Russian officials.

Zelenskyy, for his part, has firmly stated that Ukraine will never accept the recognition of Crimea as Russian territory, calling it a “red line” for his country. In response to the strikes, Zelenskyy has cut short his official trip to South Africa and is returning to Ukraine to manage the ongoing crisis.

The latest strikes have reignited fears of further violence and disruption as Ukraine grapples with the deadly consequences of Russia’s invasion. Kyiv’s residential areas were among the hardest-hit, with fires reported across multiple neighbourhoods, including the Sviatoshynskyi district. Firefighters battled to control blazes in the aftermath of the attack, while emergency workers faced significant challenges in retrieving the injured from the rubble.