Gladness Gideon
A deadly overnight assault on Kyiv left at least 16 people dead and dozens injured after Russia unleashed a wave of drone and missile attacks early Tuesday. The large-scale bombardment coincides with another breakdown in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attack as one of the most devastating on the capital since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. He stated that Russian forces had launched 440 drones and 32 missiles across the country in a coordinated offensive.
“Putin sustains this war because he believes he can get away with it,” Zelensky said, calling on global leaders to confront the rising toll on civilians rather than ignore it.
The strikes devastated several districts of Kyiv. Emergency crews rushed to a severely damaged high-rise building, recovering two more bodies from the wreckage. Authorities confirmed that at least one American citizen was among the casualties.
AFP correspondents in Kyiv reported chaotic scenes, with plumes of smoke billowing over the city and residents taking shelter in underground metro stations. “That was the most terrifying night our neighborhood has ever experienced,” said 20-year-old student Alina Shtompel. “The pain is beyond words.”
In other regions, a Russian missile attack in Odesa left one person dead and ten injured. Strikes were also reported in Sumy and Kherson, killing two more civilians.
Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed the attacks were aimed at military-industrial sites in and around Kyiv. However, Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported that residential buildings, schools, and vital infrastructure were hit.
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The German Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks, accusing Russia of using peace negotiations as a smokescreen. “Putin seeks surrender, not resolution,” the ministry stated in a message posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts have once again hit a wall. Ukraine has rejected Russia’s latest proposals as unreasonable, while the Kremlin brushed off calls from Kyiv and its Western allies for an immediate ceasefire.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who was scheduled to meet President Zelensky at the G7 summit in Canada, left the event early due to mounting global tensions, including escalating violence between Israel and Iran.
As the conflict drags into its fourth year, the human cost continues to rise. Despite repeated efforts by the U.S. and its allies to mediate peace, Russian forces remain on the offensive—and Ukrainian civilians continue to suffer the consequences.