A massive Russian attack on Kyiv early Thursday killed at least three people and wounded a dozen others, city officials said. Powerful explosions shook the Ukrainian capital overnight, lighting up the sky and leaving a column of smoke as emergency crews rushed to affected areas.
A "massive" Russian attack on Kyiv on Thursday killed at least three people and wounded a dozen others, officials in theUkrainiancapital said.
Powerful explosions rocked the city overnight, illuminating the sky and leaving behind a column of smoke, AFP journalists saw.
The city's military administration said three people had been confirmed dead and 12 wounded, with "significant damage" to residential buildings. One of those killed was a 14-year-old, according to the administration's head Tymur Tkachenko.
The attack comes asMoscowand Kyiv trade blame over an impasse in diplomatic efforts towards a peace deal which have been spearheaded by US PresidentDonald Trump.
An AFP journalist in Kyiv saw red tracer bullets sailing through the night sky in an effort to intercept drones above the city centre. At least one missile appeared to be shot down.
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Around 100 people took refuge in a subway station, with some lying in sleeping bags and others holding their pets.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko described Russia's latest strikes as a "massive attack" which caused damage in five districts of the capital.
A five-storey building in the Darnytsky district had collapsed, the mayor reported.
Kyiv suffered one of its worst attacks of the over three-year war on July 31, leaving more than 30 people dead including five children.
Russian forces have been slowly but steadily gaining ground inUkrainein recent months, as diplomatic efforts have accelerated.
Read moreMore than 100,000 Ukrainian homes lose power after Russia targets energy sites
Trumpheld a summitwith Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska this month, followed by a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky andEuropeanallies.
But there has been little progress since then.
Before concluding any peace agreement,Ukrainewants security guarantees from the West to deter any future Russian attacks.
Moscow has cast Kyiv's demands as unrealistic and has raised particular objection to the notion of stationing Western peacekeeping troops inUkraine.
Zelensky said on Wednesday that members of his administration would meet with US officials inNew Yorkon Friday.
The Ukrainian leader said he saw "very arrogant and negative signals from Moscow regarding the negotiations", urging extra "pressure" to "force Russia to take real steps".
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Originally published on France24
