Kyiv reels from overnight missile and drone attack – worst in months
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has cut short his official visit to South Africa following one of the deadliest Russian assaults on Kyiv in recent memory. At least nine people were killed and more than 70 injured in an hours-long missile and drone attack, described by officials as the most severe strike on the capital since last July.
Zelensky confirmed his abrupt return after the capital was shaken by a barrage that lasted nearly 11 hours. “One of (Russia’s) most outrageous,” he called it.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia unleashed a massive offensive, launching 66 ballistic and cruise missiles, four air-to-surface missiles, and a staggering 145 drones, including Shahed models and decoys. The assault targeted Kyiv and four other regions.
Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko announced that Friday would be observed as an official day of mourning in the capital. Rescue teams worked through the night, combing through collapsed buildings by torchlight, as emergency lights flickered across neighbourhoods ravaged by the blasts.
The attack affected at least four districts, with significant damage reported in Sviatoshynskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, and Holosiivskyi. Fires broke out in multiple residential buildings.
In Sviatoshynskyi, a fire engulfed a block of flats after a direct hit. Emergency crews recovered bodies from the rubble and pulled survivors from the debris.
Oksana Bilozir, a student caught in the blast, described the horror: “I honestly don’t even know how this will all end, it’s very scary. I only believe that if we can stop them on the battlefield, then that’s it. No diplomacy works here.”
In a rare move, former US President Donald Trump criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling the attack “not necessary, and very bad timing.” “Vladimir, STOP!” he wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Trump’s comments come amid growing concern in Washington that US diplomatic efforts could stall if no breakthrough is reached soon. Senior officials have warned that ongoing conflict without compromise could see the US step back from its role in peace efforts.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also condemned the strike: “While claiming to seek peace, Russia launched a deadly airstrike on Kyiv. This isn’t a pursuit of peace, it’s a mockery of it.”
While claiming to seek peace, Russia launched a deadly airstrike on Kyiv.
This isn’t a pursuit of peace, it’s a mockery of it.
The real obstacle is not Ukraine but Russia, whose war aims have not changed.
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) April 24, 2025
The timing of the assault is significant. Peace negotiations, ongoing for weeks, have so far failed to yield results. Just hours before the Kyiv attack, Trump accused Zelensky of prolonging the conflict by refusing to cede Crimea to Russia—a move Ukraine firmly opposes.
Zelensky reiterated that giving up occupied territory is not on the table. He pointed out that Ukraine had already accepted a US-proposed ceasefire 44 days ago, but Russia has continued to attack.
“This latest assault shows the future of negotiations lies in Moscow’s hands,” Zelensky said from South Africa before cutting his visit short.
Recent weeks have seen a worrying escalation in violence. Russia attacked the city of Sumy during Palm Sunday celebrations, killing over 30 civilians. It also targeted Odesa with drones and bombed Zaporizhzhia using powerful glide munitions.
In another alarming development, a Russian drone strike on a civilian bus in Ukraine further deepened tensions, drawing international condemnation and raising urgent questions about the sincerity of Moscow’s ceasefire commitments.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reported that since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, Russian strikes have killed approximately 13,000 civilians, including 618 children.
Thursday’s strike saw at least 42 victims rushed to hospitals. Many more are believed to be trapped under the rubble.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the attack proved that Putin remains committed to military dominance on the battlefield. “Putin demonstrates through his actions, not words, that he does not respect any peace efforts and only wants to continue the war,” he stated.
“Weakness and concessions will not stop his terror and aggression. Only strength and pressure will.”
In the Shevchenkivskyi district, Anastasiia Zhuravlova, a 33-year-old mother of two, recounted the moment the explosions shattered her home.
“We were sleeping when the first blast hit. The windows blew out, appliances flew across the kitchen, glass rained down. We grabbed the children and hid in the corridor. Then we ran to the basement. It was terrifying.” Fires continued to rage into Thursday morning as rescuers searched for survivors in the ruins.
Kyiv is mourning once again after suffering its worst aerial attack in months. As peace talks falter and diplomatic pressure builds, the human cost of this war continues to rise. President Zelensky’s swift return home underlines the gravity of the situation a stark reminder that Ukraine remains a nation under siege.
