Ukrainian capital Kyiv was hit by a fresh wave of missile strikes on Sunday, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko, marking a renewed escalation just two days after a devastating attack claimed 18 lives in President Volodymyr Zelensky’s birthplace, Kryvyi Rih.
Klitschko confirmed via Telegram that explosions rang out across the capital, prompting the deployment of emergency responders to two districts.
He noted that three individuals sustained injuries, and wreckage had fallen at two non-residential sites.
The Ukrainian air force also reported that enemy missiles had penetrated the northern Chernihiv region.
“Explosions in the capital. Air defence is in operation,” the mayor stated.
As air raid sirens blared across multiple regions, including Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Odesa, the attacks further underscored the volatility still gripping the nation more than three years into Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The missile barrage coincides with efforts led by United States President, Donald Trump to negotiate a partial ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, part of his broader agenda to recalibrate relations with Moscow.
Zelensky Criticizes U.S. Response
On Saturday, President Zelensky sharply criticized the U.S. embassy in Kyiv for its muted response to the missile strike on Kryvyi Rih, which left nine children dead. Describing the embassy’s statement as “weak,” Zelensky expressed frustration over its failure to explicitly hold Russia accountable.
In a poignant social media post, Zelensky shared the names of the young victims and blasted the diplomatic tone of the U.S. response.
“Unfortunately, the reaction of the American embassy is unpleasantly surprising: such a strong country, such a strong people — and such a weak reaction,” he wrote.
“They are even afraid to say the word ‘Russian’ when talking about the missile that killed the children.”
The comment was aimed at U.S. Ambassador Bridget Brink, who posted on X: “Horrified that tonight a ballistic missile struck near a playground and restaurant.” She added: “This is why the war must end.”
Zelensky pushed back strongly in his address: “Yes, the war must end. But in order to end it, we must not be afraid to call a spade a spade.”
“It is wrong and dangerous to keep silent about the fact that it is Russia that is killing children with ballistic missiles,” he emphasized.
“It only incites the scum in Moscow to continue the war and further ignore diplomacy.”
Mass Casualties and Mourning in Kryvyi Rih
The strike on Kryvyi Rih, Zelensky’s industrial hometown, was among the deadliest in recent weeks. The missile exploded in a residential zone near a playground, according to officials.
Dnipropetrovsk region governor Sergiy Lysak reported 72 injuries, including 12 children, as emergency crews concluded their work overnight.
Among the youngest victims was three-year-old Tymofiy, and the oldest was 17-year-old Nikita. Local authorities have declared a three-day mourning period from April 7 to 9.
“This is nothing less than a mass murder of civilians,” said Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city’s military administration.
Graphic images shared by emergency services depicted lifeless bodies near children’s swings, underscoring the human toll.
While Russia’s defence ministry claimed responsibility for a “precision strike” targeting military leaders and Western advisers, Ukraine’s military dismissed the justification as propaganda aimed at concealing what it called a “cynical crime.”
European Military Support Talks Advance
As international efforts to resolve the war continue, Zelensky met with British and French military leaders in Kyiv on Friday. The talks centered on plans to establish a European “reassurance” force to support Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.
Zelensky described the meetings with Britain’s Chief of the Defence Staff Tony Radakin and France’s General Thierry Burkhard as productive.
He wrote on social media, “The first details on how the security contingent of partners can be deployed” were agreed upon.
This move reflects Europe’s attempt to coordinate a unified approach, especially as Trump, seeking re-election, has taken a more unilateral path in discussions with the Kremlin.
Despite diplomatic movements, Zelensky insisted that Russia’s relentless missile strikes prove its unwillingness to engage in genuine peace efforts.
