Kyiv, Ukraine – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he is cutting short his official visit to South Africa to return home following a devastating Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv that killed at least nine people and injured over 70. The assault, which struck the capital overnight, has further escalated tensions amid faltering peace negotiations in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, now in its fourth year.
The massive Russian strike on Kyiv occurred just hours after weeks of peace talks appeared to stall, with no resolution in sight. On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticized Zelenskyy, accusing him of prolonging the “killing field” by refusing to cede the Russian-occupied Crimea Peninsula as part of a potential peace deal. Zelenskyy, however, has consistently maintained that recognizing any occupied territory as Russian is a non-negotiable “red line” for Ukraine. He emphasized on Thursday that Ukraine had agreed to a U.S.-proposed ceasefire 44 days ago as a step toward peace, but Russia’s relentless attacks have continued unabated.
Also Read: Trump and Zelensky Lock Horns Again as U.S. Threatens to Walk Away from Peace Talks
Recent weeks have seen intensified Russian assaults across Ukraine, including a deadly strike on Sumy that killed over 30 civilians during Palm Sunday celebrations, drone attacks on Odesa, and powerful glide bomb strikes on Zaporizhzhia. The latest attack on Kyiv has drawn sharp condemnation from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which called it “yet another appalling violation of international humanitarian law.” The agency stated, “Civilians must never be targets. This senseless use of force must stop.”
Ukraine’s capital Kyiv is under a massive Russian missile attack tonight, with numerous impacts. Damage to civilian infrastructure and casualties have been reported.
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) April 23, 2025
Seen below, a Russian cruise missile is shredded by a Ukrainian SAM over the city. pic.twitter.com/e62RW1rW4x
Zelenskyy, who had been in South Africa to seek further support from President Cyril Ramaphosa in ending the war, announced his immediate return to Kyiv via a Telegram post. The Ukrainian leader expressed disappointment over the timing of the attack, which disrupted his diplomatic efforts.
In Kyiv, the human toll of the strike was evident. Anastasiia Zhuravlova, a 33-year-old mother of two, recounted her family’s harrowing experience. “We were sleeping when the first explosion shattered our windows and sent kitchen appliances flying,” she said. “Shards of glass rained down as we rushed to the corridor. After that, we came to the shelter because it was too scary and dangerous at home.”
Key Points:
- Zelenskyy’s Abrupt Return: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cut short his South Africa visit to return to Kyiv after a Russian missile and drone attack killed 9 and injured over 70.
- Timing Amid Peace Talks: The strike followed stalled peace negotiations, with U.S. President Donald Trump criticizing Zelenskyy for refusing to cede Crimea, a move Zelenskyy calls a “red line.”
- Recent Russian Attacks: Russia has intensified strikes, hitting Sumy (killing 30+ on Palm Sunday), Odesa (drone attacks), and Zaporizhzhia (glide bombs) in recent weeks.
- U.S. Ceasefire Proposal: Zelenskyy noted Ukraine agreed to a U.S. ceasefire plan 44 days ago, but Russia has continued its assaults.
- South Africa Diplomacy: Zelenskyy was in South Africa to seek support from President Cyril Ramaphosa to end the four-year war with Russia.
- U.N. Condemnation: The U.N. labeled the Kyiv attack a violation of international humanitarian law, demanding an end to targeting civilians.
- Civilian Impact: Kyiv resident Anastasiia Zhuravlova, 33, described her family’s ordeal, fleeing to a shelter after explosions shattered their home.
