Kyiv faces massive Russian missile and drone attacks, causing power outages and casualties amid stalled peace talks and Easter ceasefire efforts
KYIV: Kyiv and its surrounding region on Friday faced pummelling by Russian missiles and drones, officials said, the latest in an increasing number of daytime attacks on Ukraine.
“The Kyiv region is once again under a massive enemy missile and drone attack,” said regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk.
One person died in the attacks, he added.
The barrage prompted emergency power outages in several regions, energy operator Ukrenergo announced.
Russia launched almost 500 drones and missiles over Ukraine, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said.
“Terrorist Russia strikes in broad daylight deliberately — to maximise civilian casualties and damage,” Sybiga said.
“This is how Moscow responds to Ukraine’s Easter ceasefire proposals — with brutal attacks,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv was ready for a truce over the Easter holidays, but the Kremlin said it had not received any proposals.
Ukraine accuses Russia of deliberately prolonging the war to capture more Ukrainian territory and says Moscow is not genuinely interested in peace.
Talks between the two warring parties, mediated by the United States, have been stalled by the war in the Middle East.
Zelensky said he had invited an American delegation to Kyiv to relaunch negotiations with Moscow.
“The American group can come to us and, after us, go to Moscow. If it does not work out with three parties, let’s do it this way,” Zelensky said, in remarks made public Friday.