Last night, Russia began extensive attacks on Ukraine by firing ballistic missiles and attack drones, resulting in at least one death and ٣٤ injuries in Kyiv. The city's prosecutor's office announced that ١٢ regions of Ukraine were bombarded.
Widespread damage in Kyiv
Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, announced in a Telegram post following the attacks: "Russian humanitarians" carried out three waves of ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv, firing a total of ٢١ missiles. Zelensky added that these attacks caused serious damage to residential buildings, energy infrastructure, railway stations, the metro, shopping centers, and industries. Even a monastery is among the damaged locations.
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Ukraine's defense and Russian casualties
Ukrainian forces reported that out of ٢١٠ Russian drones, they shot down ١٨١, but they could not intercept any of the ballistic missiles. Zelensky stated that the Russian attack began "almost immediately" after the conclusion of negotiations between Steve Vitkoff, the U.S. special representative, and Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia.
Vitkoff described Putin as a "humanitarian" after the talks in St. Petersburg. This term, according to U.S. Vice President JD Vance, was related to the release of Steven Hubbard, an American citizen detained in Russia since ٢٠٢٢. Donald Trump, the President of the United States, also stated after these negotiations: "We are getting close to the end of the war. We may be closer than ever now."
Ukrainian forces also reported that in these attacks, ٢,٢٥٠ Russian soldiers were killed and wounded, marking the highest Russian casualties in ٢٤ hours since ٢٠٢٢. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Army released this information in a press statement.
The Russian Ministry of Defense also announced on Thursday that it had shot down ٨٠٨ Ukrainian drones in ١٧ regions, including occupied areas of Ukraine.
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