Kyiv woke up to devastation Thursday morning as Russian missile and drone strikes pounded the Ukrainian capital overnight, killing at least nine people and injuring more than 60 in the deadliest assault on the city in months.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that the barrage sparked multiple fires after drone debris rained down across the city, with emergency crews racing to free residents feared trapped beneath the rubble.
The northeastern city of Kharkiv was also hit, leaving at least two people injured, according to local authorities.
The overnight bombardment came hours after former U.S. President Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, accusing him of obstructing peace efforts.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump claimed a peace deal was “very close” but warned that Zelensky’s refusal to accept U.S.-proposed terms—including a controversial freeze of current territorial lines—would only prolong the conflict.
“Nobody is asking Zelensky to recognize Crimea as Russian,” Trump wrote. “But if he wants it, why didn’t they fight for it 11 years ago? His statement today will do nothing but prolong the killing field.”
Trump, who said he finds it easier to work with Russia than Ukraine, reiterated that his main concern was ending the war and saving lives.
His comments were echoed by Vice-President JD Vance, who outlined the U.S. vision for a ceasefire that would “freeze the territorial lines close to where they are today”—a proposal seen as potentially ceding occupied regions to Russia.
Ukraine’s leaders, however, fiercely rejected any suggestion of territorial concessions. “Russia, not Ukraine, is the obstacle to peace,” declared Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
“Putin’s actions prove he has no interest in peace—only continued terror. Weakness and concessions will not stop him.”
Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal condemned the attacks as acts of “terror” and reiterated Ukraine’s call for a full and unconditional ceasefire.
In response to the attacks, President Zelensky has cut short his trip to South Africa, where he was due to meet with President Cyril Ramaphosa.
While the bilateral meeting will go ahead, other engagements have been cancelled as Zelensky prepares to return to Ukraine.
The brutal overnight assault and the political crossfire in Washington further underscore the fragile state of international diplomacy—and the mounting human toll—as the war enters another turbulent phase.
