Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Ukraine overnight, killing one person and injuring four others, including a nine-year-old girl, in the capital. The assault, which targeted multiple districts of Kyiv and the city of Kryvyi Rih, underscores the continuing brutality of the war even as discussions of potential peace negotiations gain traction.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed the casualties and damages, stating that the Holosiivskyi, Podilskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, and Obolonskyi districts suffered damage. Ukrainian air defense forces successfully intercepted six of the seven ballistic missiles and downed 71 drones, but the scale of the attack still left parts of the capital reeling.
Meanwhile, in Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk regional governor Serhiy Lysak reported extensive damage to residential and infrastructure sites, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the assault, emphasizing that Russian President Vladimir Putin has no intention of negotiating peace in good faith.
“He continues to kill Ukrainians and destroy cities,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram. “Right now, we need unity and support from all our partners in the fight for a just end to this war.”
This latest attack comes amid reports that Zelensky has hinted at the possibility of exchanging land with Russia as part of potential peace talks. Speaking to The Guardian, he suggested that Ukraine could return parts of Russia’s Kursk region—seized during an offensive six months ago—in exchange for Ukrainian territory currently occupied by Moscow.
Ukraine has never formally declared intentions to permanently occupy the land it controls in Kursk, initially justifying the offensive as a strategic move to relieve pressure on its overstretched forces. However, with Russia maintaining battlefield superiority in several key areas, Ukraine appears to be considering using its territorial gains as political leverage in peace negotiations.
Zelensky also acknowledged the critical role of the United States in securing Ukraine’s future, admitting that his country cannot enjoy lasting security guarantees without Washington’s backing. On Friday, he is set to meet with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, a known skeptic of continued American military aid to Ukraine.
With the Biden administration reportedly eyeing Ukraine’s vast natural resources as part of discussions over future aid, Zelensky is preparing to make a strong case for continued support. As the war rages on, the coming days could prove pivotal in determining the trajectory of both the battlefield and diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
