Russia Launches Major Attack on Kyiv; Zelensky: Putin Chooses Missiles Over Negotiations
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing mehr News Agency and CBS News, Ukrainian officials claim that a large-scale Russian drone and missile attack on kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, killed at least eight people and injured around 48 others.
This marks Russia’s first major combined assault on Kyiv in recent weeks. It comes amid intensified U.S. efforts to broker peace and end this war that has lasted over three years.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 629 drones and missiles toward Kyiv, intercepting and shooting down all but 40. According to Ukraine’s Air Force,this is the second-largest Russian attack since the war began.Ihor Klymenko,Ukraine’s interior minister,warned casualties could rise as rescue operations continue.
In response to the nighttime assault,President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on social media platform X that “Russia chose ballistic missiles rather of the negotiation table. We call on everyone worldwide who desires peace to respond-but now most remain silent rather of taking a firm stance.”
Timur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s executive administration, said Russia attacked at least 20 locations in Kyiv using decoy drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. about 100 buildings were damaged-including a shopping mall-and thousands of windows shattered.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who met with Vladimir Putin in Alaska late August followed by talks with Zelensky and several European leaders at the White House days later, criticized Putin for evading direct negotiations with Zelensky as proposed by the U.S. Trump announced plans to take further steps within two weeks if direct talks do not proceed and threatened economic warfare including sanctions against Putin.