Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has abruptly ended his diplomatic visit to South Africa following a devastating overnight Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv, which resulted in at least nine fatalities and over 70 injuries. The assault, one of the most severe on the Ukrainian capital in recent months, targeted residential neighborhoods, causing significant destruction and leaving many civilians trapped under rubble.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 215 aerial weapons during the attack, including 70 missiles and 145 drones. While Ukrainian defenses intercepted 112 of these projectiles, the sheer volume overwhelmed the city's air defense systems, leading to widespread damage.
Zelenskyy, who was in Pretoria meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to garner support for Ukraine's defense against Russia's invasion, announced his immediate return to Kyiv. He emphasized the urgency of halting Russian aggression and called for enhanced international support to bolster Ukraine's air defenses and humanitarian efforts.
The attack occurred amid stalled peace negotiations and increasing international pressure. Former U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Zelenskyy for refusing to concede Crimea to Russia, accusing him of prolonging the conflict. Zelenskyy reaffirmed Ukraine's stance, stating that recognizing occupied territories as Russian is a red line and emphasized that Ukraine had agreed to a U.S. ceasefire proposal 44 days prior, but Russia continued its attacks.
The United Nations condemned the strike as a breach of international humanitarian law, reiterating that civilians must never be targets and calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
Since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, approximately 13,000 Ukrainian civilians, including 618 children, have been killed, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the urgent need for a peaceful resolution.
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