Russian Attacks on Kyiv Kill Nine, Injure Over 70 Amid Peace Talks Tensions

Kyiv, Ukraine — Early on Thursday, April 24, 2025, Russian forces launched a series of missile and drone attacks on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, resulting in the deaths of at least nine people and injuring more than 70 others, according to local emergency services.

The strikes occurred just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for his stance on the ongoing peace negotiations with Russia, particularly regarding the disputed Crimea peninsula.

Air raid sirens punctuated the early morning hours in Kyiv, lasting approximately six hours as residents sought shelter. Images from the scene show extensive damage, with buildings engulfed in flames. Ukraine’s interior minister, Ihor Klymenko, reported that rescue workers, along with recovery dogs, were tirelessly searching for individuals believed to be trapped beneath the rubble in the Sviatoshyn district.

“There is information about two children who are still unaccounted for,” Klymenko said, describing the situation as “tragic.” The Kyiv mayor, Vitali Klitschko, urged citizens to remain vigilant and seek shelter during the attacks.

According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, 42 people were hospitalized, including six children. The attacks targeted multiple districts, including Sviatoshyn, Holosiivskyi, and Shevchenkivsky.

Klymenko characterized the strikes as part of a “massive combined Russian attack,” affecting not only Kyiv but also other regions such as Zhytomyr, Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia. Trump’s recent remarks, deeming Zelensky’s position as detrimental to peace efforts, have raised concerns about the future of negotiations.

Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine would not accept any proposals that recognized Russian control over Crimea, stating that it would violate the nation’s constitution. Earlier in the day, Trump criticized Zelensky’s comments as inflaming tensions, claiming they complicate peace negotiations, which he described as “very close.”

The geopolitical ramifications of these attacks and the ongoing diplomatic discussions remain complex, especially as talks among U.S., British, French, and German officials were downgraded from ministerial to technical levels following Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s absence. Meanwhile, U.S. officials plan to engage with Russian President Vladimir Putin in upcoming discussions.

As Kyiv continues to grapple with the aftermath of the attacks, Zelensky remains committed to the fight for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.