In a chilling escalation of the Russia-Ukraine war, the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv was rocked by a deadly airstrike on Friday morning, mere hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin casually suggested testing his country’s new Oreshnik hypersonic missile over the city. The attack, which reportedly utilized Kinzhal and Iskander missiles, left at least one person dead and several others injured or hospitalized.
According to Sergiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, the Russian forces launched eight missiles in total around 7:00 am local time. The strike set cars and buildings ablaze, with emergency services rushing to contain the damage. Debris was scattered across four areas of the city.
The airstrike came on the heels of an ominous statement from Putin during a press conference on Thursday, where he floated the idea of a “hi-tech duel” over Kyiv to showcase the supposed invincibility of Russia’s latest hypersonic weapon. His cavalier attitude towards the potential loss of life drew sharp condemnation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“Do you think that’s a sane person? Simply scumbags,” Zelenskyy said of Putin’s remarks, later taking to social media to label the Russian leader a “dumbass” for finding the prospect of civilian deaths “interesting.”
Attacks Across Ukraine
The strike on Kyiv was not an isolated incident, as several other Ukrainian cities and towns reported missile attacks overnight. In the southeastern city of Kryvyi Rih, a two-story building was badly damaged, leaving six people injured. A man and a teenage girl were pulled from the rubble and hospitalized, according to regional governor Serhiy Lysak.
Meanwhile, Ukraine accused Russia of orchestrating a mass cyber-attack on its state registries, temporarily suspending the work of critical infrastructure under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice. Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna stated that it was clear the attack was “carried out by the Russians to disrupt the work of the country’s important infrastructure.”
Putin’s Posturing and Peace Proposals
Despite the escalating violence, Putin claimed during a marathon phone-in event that he was “ready for negotiations and compromises” to end the fighting. However, his stance appeared to be a maximalist one, involving keeping Crimea and other occupied territories, preventing Ukraine from joining NATO, and lifting Western sanctions against Russia.
Zelenskyy dismissed Putin as a “fantasiser” living in his own world, accusing him of wanting to destroy Ukraine’s army. The Ukrainian president emphasized the need for both Europe and the United States to be on board to secure a durable peace, as he met with EU leaders at their final summit before Donald Trump’s inauguration.
“I believe that the European guarantees won’t be sufficient for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said, underscoring the complexity of the geopolitical situation.
A War With No End in Sight
As the Russia-Ukraine war approaches its third year, the latest escalation serves as a grim reminder of the human cost of the conflict. With no clear path to peace and the looming specter of even more advanced weaponry being deployed, the international community watches with bated breath.
The strike on Kyiv, coming so close on the heels of Putin’s chilling remarks, has only heightened tensions and fears of further escalation. As world leaders grapple with the complexities of the situation, the people of Ukraine continue to bear the brunt of the violence, their lives upended by a war that shows no signs of abating.
In the face of such unimaginable hardship, the resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people stand as a beacon of hope. As the war rages on, their struggle for peace, freedom, and sovereignty remains at the forefront of the global consciousness, a stark reminder of the human cost of geopolitical conflict in an increasingly uncertain world.
