Russian forces launch their deadliest strike on Kyiv in nearly a year, killing over 10 civilians and injuring nearly 90 as President Trump calls for Putin to end hostilities.
Key Takeaways
- Russian forces conducted an 11-hour bombardment of Kyiv using 66 missiles and 145 drones across multiple neighborhoods on April 24, 2025.
- At least 12 civilians were killed and approximately 90 injured, including children, in what officials call the deadliest attack on the Ukrainian capital since July 2024.
- The assault began around 1:00 a.m., causing fires in residential buildings in at least five neighborhoods including Sviatoshynkskyi, Shevchenkivsky, and Holosiivskyi districts.
- President Donald Trump issued a rare public condemnation of Russia, urging President Putin to stop hostilities and engage in peace talks.
- President Zelenskyy cut short his diplomatic trip to South Africa to address the crisis at home as international pressure mounts for Russia to engage in meaningful dialogue.
Devastating Night of Attacks Across the Ukrainian Capital
Ukrainian authorities report that Russian forces launched a massive overnight assault on Kyiv early Thursday, April 24, 2025, in what has become the deadliest attack on the capital in nearly a year. The bombardment, which began around 1:00 a.m. local time, involved a combination of ballistic missiles and drones targeting at least five residential neighborhoods. Initial reports from the Kyiv City Military Administration confirmed the detection of at least 45 drones as part of the coordinated attack, with the assault continuing for approximately 11 hours.
Emergency services scrambled to respond as fires erupted in residential buildings across the Sviatoshynkskyi, Shevchenkivsky, and Holosiivskyi districts. The State Emergency Service has confirmed at least 12 civilian deaths and approximately 90 injuries, with at least 42 people requiring hospitalization. Rescue operations continue as officials warn the casualty count may rise as workers search through damaged structures and rubble for survivors.
Just hours after Donald Trump claimed a peace deal was within reach, Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Kiev. Randolph Nogel has more pic.twitter.com/Lnv2IWvr2Z
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) April 24, 2025
President Trump Condemns Russian Aggression
In a significant diplomatic development, President Donald Trump issued an unusually direct condemnation of the Russian attack, calling on President Vladimir Putin to immediately cease hostilities and return to the negotiating table. This marks a notable shift in tone from the President, who has previously criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for not making territorial concessions that might expedite an end to the conflict. The White House statement emphasized the unacceptable civilian toll and stressed that peace negotiations cannot advance under such hostile conditions.
Relations between Washington and Kyiv have been strained in recent months, with President Trump publicly suggesting that Ukraine should consider ceding Crimea to Russia as part of a peace settlement. Zelenskyy has consistently rejected this position, maintaining that recognizing any occupied Ukrainian territory as Russian is fundamentally unacceptable. Despite these tensions, the scale and civilian impact of the latest attack has apparently prompted a stronger American response.
International Response and Diplomatic Fallout
President Zelenskyy abruptly curtailed his diplomatic mission to South Africa upon news of the attack, with the Ukrainian presidential office announcing his immediate return to Kyiv to manage the crisis. The timing of the Russian assault, occurring during a rare foreign trip by Zelenskyy, has raised questions about whether Moscow deliberately chose this moment to strike. International reaction has been swift, with numerous Western allies condemning the attack and reiterating support for Ukraine’s defensive capabilities.
The attack comes amid stalled peace negotiations and heightened rhetoric from both sides. Russian officials have not directly commented on the specific assault, but the Kremlin has consistently maintained that its military operations target military infrastructure rather than civilian areas. Evidence from the ground in Kyiv, including extensive damage to apartment buildings and civilian casualties, appears to contradict these claims as rescue workers continue to search for survivors in what has become the deadliest day for the Ukrainian capital in months.
Sources:
- Russia launches Kyiv missile attack hours after Trump says peace deal ‘very close’
- Russia blamed for overnight strike on Kyiv that killed at least 9, injured dozens, including children
- Russian strike on Kyiv kills at least 12 in biggest attack on Ukrainian capital since last summer
