Ukrainian emergency services were battling major blazes in Kyiv early on Tuesday after a widespread Russian missile attack targeted the capital. The Ukrainian air force had issued a stark warning of a 'missile threat for all of Ukraine' prior to the assault, which struck on day 1,371 of the conflict.
Wave of Attacks on the Capital
The Russian offensive hit residential buildings and critical energy infrastructure, according to local authorities and video evidence from the scene. At least four people were injured in the capital as a result of the bombardment.
Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, confirmed that a high-rise residential building on the left bank of the Dnipro River had been struck. He reported that four individuals received treatment for injuries and rescue teams successfully evacuated at least eight people from the damaged structure. Unofficial Telegram channels circulated pictures showing apartments on the upper floors engulfed in flames.
In a separate incident, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that another high-rise in the central Pechersk district was hit, leading to its evacuation. The mayor also confirmed disruptions to the city's power and water supplies following the attacks on energy infrastructure.
Regional Escalation and Diplomatic Moves
As Kyiv came under fire, Ukrainian forces conducted airstrikes on the Russian port city of Taganrog. The city's mayor, Svetlana Kambulova, announced that the attack killed one person and wounded three others. She detailed extensive damage on Telegram, stating, "As a result of the massive overnight airstrike on our city, two apartment buildings, a private home, the Mechanical College building, two industrial enterprises, and Kindergarten No. 7 were damaged."
This escalation in violence occurs against a complex diplomatic backdrop. Sources familiar with the negotiations revealed that Ukraine has significantly amended the US 'peace plan' to end the war, removing some of Russia's more extreme demands. European leaders have concurrently cautioned that reaching a swift agreement remains unlikely.
In a significant political development, sources indicated that Volodymyr Zelenskyy may meet with Donald Trump at the White House later this week. This potential summit is part of a flurry of diplomatic communications between Kyiv and Washington.
International Reactions and Analysis
The White House has pushed back against criticism, including from within the Republican party, that Donald Trump is showing favouritism towards Russia in the peace efforts. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed these concerns on Monday, stating, "The idea that the United States of America is not engaging with both sides equally in this war to bring it to an end is a complete and total fallacy." She added that the US president was "hopeful and optimistic" that a viable plan to end the conflict could be established.
Analysts suggest that the leaked US-Russia peace proposal has created disarray in Washington, Kyiv, and European capitals. An analysis by Pjotr Sauer argues that the plan has produced conditions long sought by Vladimir Putin: a negotiating table sharply tilted in Russia's favour, cornering Ukraine into considering unacceptable terms while facing the potential loss of its most crucial ally.
In a separate development, a Lithuanian court convicted a Ukrainian national on Monday for an arson attack on an Ikea store in Vilnius in May 2024. Authorities believe Russian military intelligence was behind the incident, which targeted Ikea due to its withdrawal from Russia and Sweden's support for Ukraine. The convicted individual, a minor at the time, received a three-year, four-month prison sentence.
