Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky abruptly shortened his official visit to South Africa on Thursday following a deadly Russian missile and drone strike on Kyiv that killed at least eight people and left dozens injured.
The attack, one of the deadliest on the Ukrainian capital in recent months, saw Russia launch more than 200 missiles and drones overnight, with over 100 intercepted by Ukrainian air defences, according to military officials.
Despite Kyiv’s relatively robust air defence systems, 13 locations across the city suffered significant damage, including residential areas.
According to The PUNCH, Interior Minister Igor Klymenko reported that more than 70 people were injured in the strike, and rescue efforts were ongoing as emergency services combed through the debris.
“Phone calls can be heard from under the rubble — the search will continue until we are confident that we have found everyone,” he said, noting that two children remain unaccounted for.
The Ukrainian president, who had just concluded talks with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, announced his immediate return to Kyiv.
“Because of this Russian attack, I have decided to shorten the program of my visit to South Africa; however, our Minister for Foreign Affairs remains here, as a sign of our respect and to carry out all the meetings that were scheduled.
“We are grateful for the respect shown to Ukraine, for the support, and for the shared sense — the sense that this war must be brought to an end as soon as possible.
“Today, President @CyrilRamaphosa and I discussed the importance of uniting global efforts as fully as possible now to apply the necessary pressure on Russia — pressure for the sake of peace. We also spoke about the opportunities within the G20 framework — South Africa currently holds the G20 Presidency, and the role of the Group of Twenty can be significantly greater in defending human life,” Zelensky stated via his X.
The assault came just hours after U.S. president Donald Trump criticised Zelensky for refusing to accept Russia’s annexation of Crimea as part of a peace agreement.
Trump, who has been pushing for an immediate ceasefire, accused the Ukrainian leader of prolonging the conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has yet to respond to a recent Ukrainian proposal to halt attacks on civilian targets.
Last month, he rejected calls for a full and unconditional ceasefire from both Ukraine and the United States.
Elsewhere in the country, Russian forces also targeted the northeastern city of Kharkiv and the center of Sumy, where previous attacks this month have killed dozens, including children.
In a separate incident, Russia claimed to have downed 87 Ukrainian drones, including 45 over Crimea.
