Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that due to a massive missile strike on Ukrainian territory, he is canceling part of his planned diplomatic activities in the Republic of South Africa and is urgently returning to Ukraine. According to the head of state, nine people have died as a result of the attack by Russian forces, and another 80 have been injured.
This is reported by Київ24
“It is very important for everyone in the world to see and understand what is actually happening. Approximately 70 missiles, including ballistic ones, as well as nearly 150 strike drones. Unfortunately, we have significant destruction and casualties. Rescue operations are ongoing, and debris is being cleared. More than 80 people have been injured across Ukraine, with 9 fatalities in Kyiv,”
Zelensky stated that he will inform South African President Ramaphosa, who is chairing the “Group of Twenty,” about the situation and the need to intensify international efforts to support Ukraine. The head of state emphasized that the cessation of missile strikes is an urgent necessity and expressed hope for assistance on humanitarian issues, particularly regarding the return of Ukrainian prisoners and children abducted by Russia.
Diplomatic Mission and Situation on the Front
Zelensky noted that part of his visit to South Africa will be canceled, and after meeting with President Ramaphosa, he will immediately return to Ukraine. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine will conduct all necessary negotiations with the country’s political and civic leaders to fully inform them about the situation in Ukraine due to the missile strike.
Massive Missile Strike on Ukraine
On April 24, Russian forces launched a combined strike on Ukrainian cities. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Poltava, Khmelnytskyi, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia were under massive attack. Kyiv suffered the most, with rescuers working at 13 locations.
The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that at night, Russian forces used 215 drones and missiles of various types, including 11 ballistic Iskander-M and KN-23 missiles. The main target of the strike was the city of Kyiv. Currently, there are reports of casualties in Kyiv, as well as in Kharkiv, Zhytomyr, Sumy, Khmelnytskyi, and Kyiv regions.