At least eight killed in Russian attack on Kiev

AUTHOR:M.J. GDNUS

Russia bombarded Kiev overnight with missiles and drones, killing at least eight people, wounding more than 70 and destroying buildings in the most intense attack on the Ukrainian capital this year so far.

The attack caused fires, and six children were among the injured. According to officials, some people are still trapped under the rubble.

“There is significant material damage. The search for people under the rubble is still ongoing,” the State Emergency Service said via Telegram.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiha said on the X network that the “brutal strikes” showed that Russia, not Ukraine, was the obstacle to peace. Moscow has not yet commented on the attack.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that eight people had been confirmed dead in the capital so far, although earlier official information spoke of nine deaths.

The most serious situation was recorded in the Sviatoshynskyi district, west of the city center, where rescuers were still clearing the rubble of two buildings, Klitschko said.

Photos posted on Telegram showed rescue teams carefully searching through the rubble with the help of searchlights and climbing ladders along the facades of damaged buildings. Police officers went apartment by apartment, checking that residents were safe.

The attack came at a crucial moment in the war that began with Russia’s invasion in 2022, and both Kiev and Moscow are under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to show progress toward a peace deal.

Trump and his administration have threatened to withdraw from the mediation process if there is no progress, leaving European countries to find ways to help Ukraine on their own.

Talks in London on Wednesday aimed at reaching an agreement, according to a joint statement from Britain, France and Germany, made “significant progress” towards reaching a “common position on the next steps.”

However, the significance of the meeting was diminished after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio cancelled his attendance at the last minute.

Trump then appeared to blame Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the lack of progress, after Zelensky said he would not recognize Russia’s occupation of Crimea as part of a peace deal.