Russia’s massive strike against Ukrainian capital killed several people and hurt dozens

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday that he was laying off employees, he officially traveled to South Africa and returned home after Russia’s strike against Ukrainian capital Kyiv, killing at least eight people and injuring more than 70 people.

Zelenskyy said in a telegram post that he will fly back to Kiev after meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The Ukrainian leader hopes to recruit further South African support to end War between his country and Russianow is the fourth year.

The attack on Kiev took place for hours after peace talks appeared to stall on Wednesday. Trump lashes at Zelenskyysaid he extended the “field of murder” by delaying Crimea to Russia as part of a potential peace plan. Later that day, Mr. Trump said that dealing with Zelenskyy was more important than Russia.

Zelenskyy repeatedly stated that he realized that the occupied territory was the red line for Russia to be his country. He noted on Thursday that Ukraine had agreed to a U.S. ceasefire proposal 44 days ago, which was the first step in negotiating peace, but that the Russian attacks continued.

Despite talks in recent weeks, Russia attacked Sumi City, killing more than 30 civilians gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday, beat Odesa with drones and blew up Zaporizhzhia with powerful Glide bombs.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on social media that the “brutal strike” shows that Russia, not Ukraine, is an obstacle to peace.

According to Reuters, Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, asserted on Thursday that Zelensky refused to make any concessions in the peace talks and only agreed to a ceasefire on her own terms.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko told Reuters eight people were killed in the capital. Officials had earlier said nine people were killed.

The Kiev Municipal Military Administration said on its telegram channel that Russia attacked Kiev with drones and ballistic missiles. The government said at least 45 drones were found, adding that Ukrainian air force would update those numbers later.

The Ukrainian Emergency Services Ministry said at least 42 people were hospitalized in Kiev. Earlier Thursday, operations were still underway, searching for the bodies under the rubble.

In an almost completely destroyed residential building in Kiev, emergency workers took the rubble away with their hands and rescued a trapped woman who emerged from the wreckage covered in white dust and moaned in pain.

An elderly woman was sitting on a brick wall with blood on her face, her eyes fixed to the ground in shock when medical staff leaned towards the wound.

Tymur Tkachenko, head of the city military authority, said there was a fire in several residential buildings.

The attack began at 1:00 a.m. and at least five communities in Kyiv were attacked. In the Sviatoshynkskyi area, a fire broke out in the residential building that was damaged during the attack.

The Associated Press saw rescue teams unearth people trapped under the ruins of the building and were taken away.

One student, Oksana Bilozir, suffered a head injury in the attack. She said as the bandaged head oozed out, she said she heard an explosion after the air alarm whimpered, and when another explosion caused the house walls to collapse and the lights went out, she began to grab her stuff and escape to the shelter.

“I honestly didn’t even know that it would be over; it was horrible,” Bilozier said. “I just believe that if we can stop them on the battlefield, that’s it. There’s no diplomatic role here.”

More fires have been reported in the Shevchenkivsky and Holosiivskyi areas.

Mother Anastasiia Zhuravlova, 33, sheltered in the basement after multiple explosions damaged her home. Her family was sleeping when the first explosion shattered the window and made the kitchen utensils fly. When they were anxious to cover the corridor, the glass shards rained.

“After that, we came to the shelter because it was horrible and dangerous at home,” she said.