The president said he will return immediately to Ukraine after Moscow launched a barrage of missiles and drones on the capital.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cut short his trip to South Africa on Thursday after Russia launched a deadly barrage of missiles and drones on Kyiv, killing at least eight people, according to authorities.
Ukraine has endured bombings since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, but such intense attacks on the capital—better protected by air defenses than other cities—are less frequent.
Just hours before the missile and drone strikes, U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at Zelensky for refusing to accept Russia’s occupation of Crimea as a condition to end the war.
This assault, one of the worst against Kyiv since the beginning of the invasion, prompted Zelensky to curtail his visit to South Africa.
“I am canceling part of the visit’s program and will return to Ukraine immediately after my meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa,” Zelensky announced on X.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 70 missiles and 145 drones overnight, mainly targeting Kyiv. Of these, 112 were reportedly shot down.
Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said eight people were killed in the attacks, revising down an earlier official toll of nine.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed the updated figure but noted it may rise as bodies are still trapped under the rubble.
Zelensky reported that more than 80 people were injured across the country.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed the bombings were not aimed at civilian targets.
“The Russian Armed Forces carried out a massive attack with long-range air-, land-, and sea-launched weapons, as well as drones, targeting Ukraine’s aviation, aerospace, machinery, and armored vehicle industries,” read a statement from the ministry.
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