Summary

  • Russian missile and drone attacks on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv kill at least nine people, with another 63 injured

  • Earlier, US President Donald Trump criticised President Zelensky's approach to peace talks

  • After Zelensky insisted that Ukraine would not accept Russia's occupation of Crimea, Trump said the comments were "very harmful to the peace negotiations"

  • "He can have peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole country," Trump added. "The statement made by Zelensky today will do nothing but prolong the killing field"

  • As well as Kyiv, Russia also attacked Kharkiv in north-eastern Ukraine overnight, while Poland scrambled jets after attacks on western Ukraine

  • Meanwhile, Russia says it intercepted 87 drones from Ukraine overnight, including 45 over Crimea

Live Reporting

Edited by Owen Amos and Johanna Chisholm

  1. The latest attacks show Russia is the obstacle to peace - Ukraine

    Rescue workers after a Russian attacks on a residential buildingEPA

    Rescue workers after a Russian attacks on a residential building

    The overnight strikes show that "Russia, not Ukraine, is the obstacle to peace," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha says.

    "Putin demonstrates through his actions, not words, that he does not respect any peace efforts and only wants to continue the war," he says in a post on X.

    "Weakness and concessions will not stop his terror and aggression. Only strength and pressure will."

    Ukraine's Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal has also posted about last night's attacks on his Telegram channel, saying Russia "terrorised" Ukrainian cities "all night long".

    "Ukraine insists on a complete and unconditional ceasefire," he says.

  2. Analysis

    Zelensky's trip to South Africa reflects a changing world

    Mayeni Jones
    Africa Correspondent, in Pretoria

    This state visit would have been unimaginable just two years ago, when President Ramaphosa led a delegation of African leaders to Kyiv on a self-styled peace mission.

    At the time, South Africa’s refusal to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a source of frustration for Kyiv.

    But the geopolitical landscape has fundamentally changed since that meeting, and both countries now have a lot more in common.

    Both find themselves increasingly at odds with Washington. The US was one of their closest allies until the re-election of Donald Trump in November. Now Ukraine is keen to broaden its pool of international partners - particularly in Africa where many countries have strong links with Russia.

    South Africa has also suffered from strained relations with Washington, which has expelled its ambassador and removed aid funding.

    The Ukrainian authorities hope the South African government can help with initiatives such as securing the release of more than 19,000 Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.

    For its part, South Africa says its non-aligned position puts it in a prime position to help bring about a peace deal with Russia.

  3. Zelensky to meet South African president this morning

    Zelensky walks towards the camera, military personnel in uniform stand to his left and rightGCIS/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

    Zelensky arriving in Pretoria this morning

    President Zelensky is in South Africa today - his first visit to Africa since becoming president in 2019, aside from a brief stopover in Cape Verde in 2023.

    He is set to meet President Cyril Ramaphosa as well as political, civil and student representatives of African countries.

    "It is crucial to bring a just peace closer. We are working to ensure that the G20 countries are actively engaged in diplomatic efforts," Zelensky said in a post on X.

    Zelensky will be officially welcomed by Ramaphosa at 11:00 local time (10:00 BST) with a press conference given by the two leaders at 13:15 (12:15 BST).

    You'll be able to follow the news conference on this page - and we'll have analysis from our correspondent Mayeni Jones in Pretoria next.

  4. The scene in Kyiv after overnight strikes

    As we've been reporting this morning, Russia has launched attacks across Ukraine overnight - with the strikes in Kyiv considered the worst by the country's interior minister.

    Here are some of the images from the city overnight and into this morning.

    A jet of fire over the city skyline lights up the sky an orange colourReuters

    A ballistic missile explodes in the sky over Kyiv

    Two men wearing helmets walk across a pile of rubble where buildings have collapsedReuters

    A building hit by a strike in Kyiv

    Cars are smashed and trees have fallen to the ground - buildings in the side of the frame have also been damagedReuters

    Further damage to buildings and infrastructure is evident across the city

    The top of a building appears to have been hollowed out - with rubble on top of the roofReuters

    Emergency services are working across the city this morning

  5. Poland deploys fighter jets as Russia attacks western Ukraine

    Adam Easton
    Warsaw correspondent

    Poland has scrambled aircraft to secure its airspace during Russian strikes on neighbouring western Ukraine, the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command says.

    "Due to the activity of the long-range aviation of the Russian Federation, which is carrying out strikes on objects located, among others, in western Ukraine, Polish and allied aircraft have begun operating in Polish airspace," the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command says in a brief statement on X.

    The Operational Command routinely issues such a statement when Russian missile strikes target western Ukraine.

  6. People trapped in Kyiv rubble, says mayor

    The aftermath of a Russian missile attack on KyivReuters

    The aftermath of an overnight Russian missile attack on Kyiv

    We can bring you more now on Russia's attacks on Ukraine overnight.

    As we've been reporting, at least nine people have been killed and more than 60 injured in Kyiv, with two people injured in Kharkiv.

    Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, says six children are among those taken to hospital.

    "Fires broke out in six locations," he continues, adding there are "people are under the rubble" of a destroyed residential building.

    Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko says "phone calls can be heard from the wreckage" - adding the search will continue until everyone is accounted for.

    Klymenko says other areas have come under Russian attack - including Sumy and Zhytomyr - although Kyiv is worst affected.

    The Russian military has not yet commented on the attacks - this morning it said it had intercepted 87 Ukrainian drones, including two over the Moscow region, and 45 over Crimea.

  7. Zelensky is prolonging the killing field, says Trump

    Close-up shot of Donald TrumpReuters

    Before Russia launched its overnight attacks, US President Donald Trump accused Volodymyr Zelensky of harming peace negotiations.

    After the Ukrainian president said Kyiv would not recognise Russian control of Crimea, Trump said the condition was "very harmful" to peace talks.

    "Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago?" Trump wrote.

    Trump added: "I have nothing to do with Russia, but have much to do with wanting to save, on average, five thousand Russian and Ukrainian soldiers a week, who are dying for no reason whatsoever.

    "The statement made by Zelenskyy today will do nothing but prolong the "killing field," and nobody wants that! We are very close to a Deal, but the man with "no cards to play" should now, finally, GET IT DONE."

    When asked by reporters at the White House about whether the administration was looking to recognise Russia's sovereignty over Crimea, Trump said he just wanted to see the war end.

    He also said in the Oval Office on Wednesday evening that he found it easier to deal with Russia compared to Ukraine.

    Earlier, US Vice-President JD Vance laid out the US vision for a deal, saying it would "freeze the territorial lines [...] close to where they are today", adding that Ukraine and Russia would both have to "give up some of the territory they currently own".

  8. Russian attacks on Kyiv kill at least nine as Trump criticises Zelensky

    A ballistic missile explodes in the sky over the Kyiv skylineReuters

    Overnight missile and drone attacks by Russia on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, have killed at least nine and injured more than 60, according to local officials.

    The city’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, says fires were sparked by falling drone wreckage, while there are concerns that people may be trapped under rubble.

    Russia also attacked the north-eastern city of Kharkiv with two injured, the local mayor said.

    The attacks follow US President Donald Trump accusing the Ukrainian president of harming peace negotiations.

    Writing on Truth Social, Trump claimed a deal to end the war was "very close", but that Volodymyr Zelensky's refusal to accept US terms "will do nothing but prolong" the conflict.

    We'll have more on the attacks, and the attempted peace talks, from our teams in Ukraine, the US, and around the world on this page.