By On April 24, 2025, at 1 a.m. local time, Russian drones and missiles struck Kyiv, killing nine people and injuring 63, including six children and a pregnant woman, as reported by Ukrainian authorities and Sky News. Fires broke out in residential buildings, and rescue operations continue with mobile phones ringing under the rubble—a haunting sign of lives lost or trapped.
This attack is part of a broader wave of Russian strikes across Ukraine, hitting regions like Zhytomyr, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv, showing an escalation in the ongoing war. Kyiv’s military chief, Tymur Tkachenko, called it “Russian peace in all its glory,” reflecting the bitter irony felt by Ukrainians as violence surges amid peace talks.
This isn’t an isolated incident. On April 17, 2025, Russian strikes on Dnipro killed three, and earlier, on January 18, 2025, a similar attack on Kyiv claimed three lives, with Russia claiming retaliation for Ukraine’s use of U.S.-supplied missiles (Al Jazeera, web ID: 0).
The pattern of targeting civilian areas has intensified over the past three years of war, with previous attacks like the one in Kryvyi Rih on April 4, 2025, killing 19, including nine children (NYT, web ID: 6). These strikes have devastated communities, leaving families displaced and infrastructure in ruins, while the human toll continues to rise.
The timing of the Kyiv attack coincides with faltering diplomatic efforts. On April 23, 2025, a U.S.-backed peace plan emerged, proposing that the U.S. recognize Russia’s control over Crimea, a region annexed in 2014, and freeze the current front lines (Sky News website content). President Trump claimed a deal was “very close” but accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of “prolonging the killing field” by rejecting the Crimea concession.
Zelenskyy, while meeting South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa on April 23, insisted on a “just peace” that respects Ukraine’s territorial integrity. His chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, stated on X, “Putin only demonstrates a desire to kill,” pointing to the attacks as proof of Russia’s lack of interest in peace.
The peace process faces significant hurdles. Ukraine rejects territorial concessions, and Zelenskyy’s decree barring talks with Putin, alongside his push for NATO membership, complicates negotiations (Wikipedia, web ID: 1). Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on April 19, 2025, that the U.S. might abandon peace efforts if progress stalls (Reuters, web ID: 2).
Meanwhile, global actors like China and Brazil advocate for de-escalation, but their proposals, such as Brazil’s suggestion of territorial concessions, have been dismissed by Ukraine. The war’s broader impact, including disruptions to global energy and food security, continues to grow, as noted by Brazilian President Lula da Silva (Wikipedia, web ID: 1).
The Kyiv attack underscores the urgent need for a resolution that prioritizes civilian safety and Ukraine’s sovereignty. While diplomatic efforts falter, the international community must intensify humanitarian aid and pressure for a ceasefire. As Zelenskyy stated, a “just peace” is crucial—but with each new strike, that goal feels increasingly out of reach.
