- Russia launched its deadliest attack on Kyiv since July 2024, killing at least 8 people
- Attack involved 70 missiles and 145 drones targeting the Ukrainian capital
- President Trump accused Zelensky of harming peace talks over his refusal to recognize Russian control of Crimea
- Zelensky cut short his visit to South Africa to return to Ukraine after the attacks
- US-led peace efforts face growing tension as diplomatic meetings were downgraded
Russia's Massive Strike on Kyiv
Russia hit Kyiv with its worst attack in nine months on Thursday, April 24, 2025. The strike happened just hours after US President Donald Trump blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for making peace talks harder.
The attack was huge. Russia sent 70 missiles and 145 drones toward Ukraine, mostly aimed at Kyiv, according to Ukraine's Air Force. The Russians didn't stop at just one target - they hit 13 different places in Kyiv, including homes and other buildings where normal people live and work.
Russia claims they were aiming at military targets. Their defense ministry said they hit "enterprises of the aviation, missile and space, mechanical engineering and armored industries of Ukraine, production of rocket fuel and gunpowder." They also said all their targets were hit and their goals were met.
These attacks brought back the fear that many Kyiv residents felt during the early days of the war. Air raid sirens screamed across the city for about six hours early Thursday morning. One person had to hide in a hallway with their child for those six hours while missiles fell on the city. They even heard a drone flying right outside their window.
People in Kyiv hear air raid sirens almost every day now, but this attack was much worse than usual. The strikes reminded everyone that the threat of violence is still very real in Ukraine's capital city.
The Human Cost
The attack killed at least eight people, according to Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office. Earlier reports had said nine people died. More than 60 people got hurt in the bombing.
This was the deadliest attack on Kyiv since July 2024, when 33 people died after Russia bombed a hospital and homes in the city.
The damage was terrible. Emergency workers showed pictures of buildings on fire at some of the places that got hit. Right now, rescue teams are still looking for people who might be trapped under fallen buildings.
In the Sviatoshyn district, engineers, rescue workers, and dogs trained to find people are searching through the ruins of a destroyed home. Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said, "There is information about two children who still cannot be found at the scene," adding that the situation was "tragic."
Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko asked people to take shelter during the attack. Later, he said on Telegram: "Rescuers are doing everything they can to clear the rubble as quickly as possible. We are currently clearing the rubble manually, we are not using any equipment because there may still be people under the rubble."
At least 42 people were taken to hospital, including six children, according to Ukraine's emergency services. The attack didn't just hit Kyiv - Interior Minister Klymenko said eight regions of Ukraine were targeted in what he called "a massive combined Russian attack" that also hit Zhytomyr, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Poltava, Khmelnytsky, Sumy and Zaporizhzhia.
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Zelensky's Response and Return from South Africa
After the attacks on Kyiv, President Zelensky announced he would cut short his visit to South Africa, where he had just arrived late on Wednesday. He needed to return to Ukraine right away.
"It is extremely important that everyone around the world sees and understands what is really happening," Zelensky said. He promised to contact Ukraine's international partners right away about getting better air defenses.
Zelensky pointed out that 44 days had passed since Ukraine agreed to a ceasefire and a stop to attacks. This was something the United States had proposed. "And it has been 44 days of Russia continuing to kill our people and evading tough pressure and accountability for its actions," he added on social media.
His quick return from an important international trip shows how serious the situation is. The South African visit was part of Ukraine's efforts to build wider global support, but the attack on Kyiv forced Zelensky to change his plans and rush home to deal with the crisis.
The timing of Russia's attack seems designed to put more pressure on Ukraine during a sensitive period in peace talks. It also happened just as Trump slams Zelensky for refusing to recognize Russian control of Crimea, creating even more tension in an already difficult situation.
Trump-Zelensky Dispute Over Crimea
The Russian attacks hit after President Trump and President Zelensky got into a new public fight, mainly about what should happen with Crimea. Russia took Crimea from Ukraine back in 2014, which was against international law.
The US is trying to make a peace deal to end the three-year war. As part of that, the Trump administration has suggested accepting that Russia now controls Crimea, according to officials who know about the details. This would change ten years of US policy and could upset the idea that countries shouldn't be able to take land from other countries by force, which has been widely accepted since World War II.
Zelensky has said many times that Ukraine will not accept this, explaining that it would go against Ukraine's constitution.
On Wednesday, Trump said Zelensky's position was "very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia" in a post on his Truth Social platform. He also wrote: "It's inflammatory statements like Zelenskyy's that makes it so difficult to settle this War. He has nothing to boast about!"
This public criticism shows how Paris peace talks between US, Ukraine and Russia have become more difficult. The dispute over Crimea is just one of several issues causing tension between the US and Ukraine, even though they're supposed to be allies.
The disagreement points to a bigger question: what should a peace deal look like? Ukraine wants to get back all of its land, including Crimea, while Russia wants to keep what it has taken. The US seems to be pushing Ukraine to make compromises that many Ukrainians see as giving up too much.
Peace Negotiations - Current Status and Tensions
The peace talks are not going well right now. Vice President JD Vance made things worse by threatening to walk away from the negotiations completely. During a trip to India, he told reporters that a "very explicit proposal" had been given to both Russia and Ukraine and that it was "time for them to either say 'yes,' or for the US to walk away."
This tough talk came at a bad time. Earlier that day, important talks between Ukraine, the US, Britain, France, and Germany were made less important. Instead of having meetings with top officials like foreign ministers, the talks were changed to include less senior officials. This happened after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio decided not to attend.
Zelensky seemed frustrated by all of this. He wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday: "Emotions have run high today." All of these problems have made people less sure about whether diplomats can end the war anytime soon.
There is one meeting that might still happen. The Trump administration's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is supposed to visit Moscow on Friday to talk with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. This might be a chance to make some progress, but it's hard to be optimistic given all the recent fighting and harsh words.
The way the Warnings of economic fallout prompt diplomatic shift shows how complicated these peace talks are. Many different factors affect what each country wants and how far they're willing to go to get it.
International Reactions and Diplomatic Efforts
The international community has been trying to help end the war, but progress has been slow. The downgrading of ministerial talks shows how hard it is to keep everyone on the same page.
How to attend Pope Francis' funeral in Rome has been in the news recently, and many world leaders will likely use that event as a chance to talk about Ukraine as well. The Pope had been a voice calling for peace in Ukraine before his death.
The attacks on Kyiv are likely to lead to new calls for more help for Ukraine. With Inside Orion Security's AI-powered defense systems showing how technology might help protect civilians, there could be more pressure on Western countries to provide Ukraine with better air defenses.
The missile strikes may also affect the Market meltdown: Stocks tumble as Trump tariffs approach, as investors worry about what an escalation in Ukraine might mean for the global economy. War and uncertainty are bad for business, and the attacks on Kyiv add to the sense that things are getting worse, not better.
Google's Gemini 2.5 Flash slashes AI costs and other tech developments might seem unrelated, but they could play a role in future defense systems for Ukraine if the war continues. As technology advances, both sides will try to use it to gain an advantage.
What This Means for Ukraine's Future Defense
With Russia showing it can still hit Kyiv hard, Ukraine needs to think about how to better protect its cities. The attacks highlight why Ukraine has been asking for more advanced air defense systems from its allies.
Five ballistic missiles got through Ukraine's defenses, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. This shows that their current systems aren't enough to stop everything Russia sends their way.
Ukraine might look to Microsoft's new AI agents and other new technologies to help strengthen their defenses. AI could help predict attacks or control defense systems more effectively.
The attacks also raise questions about whether Ukraine's strategy should change. If Russia can still hit the capital so hard after three years of war, maybe Ukraine needs to think differently about how it protects its people.
One option might be to work with companies like How Swirl is making case for expert services to get specialized help with security. Expert services could bring new ideas and approaches to Ukraine's defense system.
Ukraine also needs to think about what might happen if the US really does "walk away" from peace talks, as Vice President Vance threatened. If that happens, Ukraine might need to look for more help from European allies or find other ways to defend itself.
The Trump's tariffs: How low-cost tech production will change might also affect Ukraine's ability to get the technology it needs. If tariffs make tech more expensive, that could make it harder for Ukraine to buy what it needs to defend itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people were killed in the latest Russian attack on Kyiv?
At least 8 people were killed in the April 24, 2025 attacks, making it the deadliest strike on Kyiv since July 2024. More than 60 people were injured, and some people may still be trapped under rubble.
What weapons did Russia use in the attack?
Russia launched 70 missiles and 145 drones toward Ukraine, mainly targeting Kyiv. Five ballistic missiles managed to get through Ukraine's air defenses.
Why did President Zelensky cut short his visit to South Africa?
Zelensky returned to Ukraine immediately after the attacks to manage the crisis and contact international partners about strengthening Ukraine's air defenses.
What is the dispute between Trump and Zelensky about?
The main disagreement is over Crimea. The Trump administration has proposed recognizing Russian control of Crimea as part of a peace deal, but Zelensky says Ukraine cannot accept this as it would violate the country's constitution.
Are peace talks likely to succeed soon?
Peace talks face significant challenges. Vice President JD Vance has threatened to abandon negotiations if Russia and Ukraine don't accept the US proposal, and ministerial-level talks between Ukraine and its allies were recently downgraded. The situation remains tense and uncertain.
What has Russia said about the attacks?
Russia's defense ministry claimed it carried out "a massive strike with high-precision long-range air, land and sea-based weapons" targeting military industrial facilities. They said "all targets were hit" and their objectives were achieved.
How is the international community responding?
Diplomatic efforts continue despite setbacks. The Trump administration's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Moscow to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to ask its allies for improved air defense systems.
How long has the current phase of the Russia-Ukraine war been going on?
The current phase of the war has been ongoing for about three years, though Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea happened in 2014, about eleven years ago.