On Saturday morning, Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, was attacked by Russia using missiles and drones, resulting in the death of at least one person and the injury of 27 others as reported by local authorities. Explosions reverberated throughout the city for hours, with ballistic missiles and drones striking various areas from the early morning into daylight.
The assault occurred just before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was scheduled to meet Prime Minister Mark Carney in Halifax and then proceed to Florida for discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump. These meetings were aimed at resolving the longstanding Russia-Ukraine conflict.
President Zelenskyy planned to address security guarantees and territorial disputes in eastern Ukraine during his talks with President Trump. In response, the Russian Defence Ministry claimed to have conducted a significant overnight strike involving long-range precision weapons, including hypersonic missiles and drones, targeting energy infrastructure and military facilities in Ukraine.
Amid the attacks, Zelenskyy criticized Russia’s actions, emphasizing the impact on peace negotiations between Ukraine and the U.S. Poland took precautionary measures during the assault, temporarily closing airports near the Ukrainian border.
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 519 drones and 40 missiles at Kyiv, causing severe damage to residential and civilian structures. Witness accounts described harrowing scenes of destruction and loss, with reports of casualties, including children, and extensive property damage.
Zelenskyy vowed to address crucial issues such as security guarantees and territorial integrity in discussions with President Trump while also engaging with European leaders to provide updates on the ongoing negotiations.