At least nine people have been killed and more than 70 injured after a massive Russian missile and drone strike struck Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, in a devastating overnight assault. As reported by 9News , the attack came just hours after weeks of peace negotiations seemed to be nearing a critical juncture, though no agreement was yet in sight. Amid mounting international concern, former US President Donald Trump launched a scathing rebuke at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday. Trump accused Zelenskyy of prolonging the “killing field” by refusing to surrender the Russia-occupi

At least nine people have been killed and more than 70 injured after a massive Russian missile and drone strike struck Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, in a devastating overnight assault. As reported by

9News,

the attack came just hours after weeks of peace negotiations seemed to be nearing a critical juncture, though no agreement was yet in sight. Amid mounting international concern, former US President Donald Trump launched a scathing rebuke at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday. Trump accused Zelenskyy of prolonging the “killing field” by refusing to surrender the Russia-occupied Crimea Peninsula as part of a possible deal. Zelenskyy, however, has consistently reiterated that acknowledging occupied Ukrainian territories as part of Russia remains a red line his government will never cross. Speaking on Thursday, Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine had accepted a US ceasefire proposal 44 days ago as an opening step toward peace, but emphasized that Russian attacks have continued regardless. Meanwhile, the brutality of Russia’s recent military actions has intensified. In the past weeks alone, Russia has struck Sumy—killing over 30 civilians during a Palm Sunday gathering—unleashed drone barrages on Odesa, and used powerful glide bombs to blast Zaporizhzhia.

Chaos and Tragedy in Kyiv

Kyiv residents endured a harrowing night as the attack, which began around 1am local time, targeted at least five different neighbourhoods. The Ukrainian State Emergency Service confirmed that 42 people were hospitalised following the strikes on residential suburbs. Emergency teams worked tirelessly through the night, combing through charred rubble with flashlights, removing debris with their bare hands, and navigating collapsed homes under the haunting glow of flashing blue lights from rescue vehicles. In one particularly devastated residential building, rescuers pulled a woman from the ruins. She was caked in white dust, visibly in pain, and moaning as she emerged from the wreckage. Nearby, an elderly woman, her face smeared with blood, sat in silent shock against a brick wall as medics treated her injuries. According to Tymur Tkachenko, the head of the city’s military administration, fires broke out in several residential buildings across Kyiv as a result of the missile barrage.

Voices from the Ground

One of the victims, student Oksana Bilozir, suffered a head injury during the strike. Speaking through a blood-soaked bandage wrapped around her head, she recounted the terrifying moments. “I honestly don’t even know how this will all end, it’s very scary,” Bilozir said. “I only believe that if we can stop them on the battlefield, then that’s it. No diplomacy works here.” She described hearing a loud explosion following the citywide air alarm. As she rushed to gather her belongings and escape to a shelter, a second blast hit, causing her home’s walls to collapse and plunging her into darkness. The attack left countless residents sleepless. The skies above Kyiv were lit by flashes of explosions throughout the night, as loud blasts echoed across the city. Public air raid shelters were packed with families—many of them clutching pet cats and dogs as they waited out the bombardment underground. Ukrainian authorities also reported overnight aerial assaults in at least four other regions of the country.

Zelenskyy Returns from Diplomatic Trip

President Zelenskyy, who was in South Africa following a meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa, announced in a Telegram post that he would be heading back to Kyiv immediately. His trip had been aimed at garnering further diplomatic backing from South Africa in Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to end the war, now entering its fourth year. In response to the latest Kyiv strikes, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs condemned the attack as “yet another appalling violation of international humanitarian law.” “Civilians must never be targets. This senseless use of force must stop,” the UN body declared in a statement.

Families Caught in the Crossfire

Among those caught in the attack was 33-year-old Anastasiia Zhuravlova, a mother of two. She and her family were sleeping when the initial explosion shattered their home’s windows and sent kitchen appliances flying. “We came to the shelter because it was scary and dangerous at home,” Zhuravlova explained, recalling how glass shards rained down on her family as they rushed for safety in the corridor. She and her children have since sought refuge in a nearby basement. As the war drags on, the human cost continues to climb—leaving behind shattered homes, traumatised families, and a nation still fighting for its survival.

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