Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has delivered a forceful condemnation of Russia following a major aerial assault on Kyiv, which resulted in civilian casualties just days before scheduled high-stakes peace discussions with US President Donald Trump.
Capital Under Fire as Peace Talks Loom
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday, 27 December 2025, saw the Ukrainian capital targeted by a barrage of missiles and drones. One person was killed and 27 others were wounded, including two children, according to Ukrainian officials. The strikes damaged over ten residential buildings and hit energy infrastructure, leaving parts of the city without power or heating.
In a statement on social media, President Zelensky detailed the scale of the assault, stating that nearly 500 drones and 40 missiles, including advanced Kinzhal hypersonic weapons, had been used. He accused the Kremlin of using the festive period to inflict greater suffering, questioning Russia's commitment to peace negotiations. "If Russia turns even the Christmas and New Year period into a time of destroyed homes... then this sick activity can only be responded to with truly strong steps," Zelensky declared.
Diplomatic Context and Fallout
The bombardment comes ahead of a planned meeting between Zelensky and President Trump in Florida on Sunday, 28 December. Zelensky indicated that a 20-point peace plan was nearly finalised and that territorial issues would be on the agenda. This meeting represents a critical juncture in a US-led diplomatic push to end the war, which will soon enter its fourth year.
The Russian Defence Ministry claimed the "massive strike" was a retaliatory measure targeting Ukrainian energy and military-industrial facilities, alleging it was in response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian civilian objects. The attack caused significant disruption beyond Ukraine's borders, with Poland scrambling fighter jets and temporarily closing two airports near the Ukrainian frontier as a precautionary measure.
On-the-Ground Impact and Response
Emergency services worked through the night and into the morning to tackle fires and rescue survivors. Significant damage was reported in several districts of Kyiv:
- A fire erupted in an 18-storey residential building in the Dnipro district.
- A 24-storey block in the Darnytsia district was struck.
- Fires also broke out in the Obolonskyi and Holosiivsky districts.
In the wider Kyiv region, industrial and residential buildings were hit, with one person rescued from the rubble of a destroyed house in Vyshhorod.
Zelensky used his address to call for increased international pressure on Moscow, asserting that the current level of response was "insufficient." He emphasised that the United States, Europe, and other partners possessed the capability to take stronger action, concluding that "the key is to use it."
