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 others, as confirmed by local authorities. The attacks, which included ballistic missiles and drones, caused explosions that reverberated across the city throughout the day.
The assault occurred just before scheduled discussions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Mark Carney in Halifax, followed by meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida, aiming to resolve the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Zelenskyy and Trump plan to address various topics, including security assurances and territorial disputes in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Russia’s Defence Ministry reported conducting a significant strike using long-range precision weapons, including hypersonic missiles and drones, targeting energy infrastructure facilities and military-industrial complexes in Ukraine. The attack was purportedly in retaliation for Ukrainian assaults on civilian sites in Russia.
In response to the Russian incursion, Poland took precautions by deploying fighter jets and temporarily shutting down airports near the Ukrainian border. However, there were no airspace violations reported, and operations at the airports have since resumed.
Zelenskyy criticized the attacks, highlighting the extensive damage caused to residential buildings and infrastructure in Kyiv. The assault affected multiple locations in the capital, leaving some areas without essential services like electricity and heating.
Witnesses, including Olena Karpenko, recounted harrowing experiences of the attack, with reports of casualties and injuries, including children. Emergency services responded to fires and building collapses across Kyiv and its surrounding regions in the aftermath of the assault.
Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of security guarantees and outlined Ukraine’s stance on territorial issues, emphasizing that certain regions would never be recognized as Russian territory under any circumstances.
Further discussions with European leaders are planned as part of ongoing efforts to address the conflict and seek resolution through diplomatic channels.