Ukraine Mourns 23 Dead as Peace Talks Stall
Russian attack kills 23, ceasefire hopes fade.
Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, observed a somber day of mourning on Friday after a devastating Russian missile and drone assault killed 23 people, including four children, and injured over 50. The overnight barrage from Wednesday to Thursday, involving nearly 600 drones and more than 30 missiles, targeted downtown Kyiv in a rare escalation, leaving flags at half-staff and entertainment events canceled.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported that rescue workers pulled 17 people, including four children, from the rubble during a grueling 30-hour operation. The youngest victim, a 2-year-old girl, underscored the tragedy’s toll, with eight people still unaccounted for and some bodies yet to be identified. “Thousands of Interior Ministry personnel worked tirelessly at the strike sites,” Klymenko said.
The attack comes as U.S.-led peace efforts to end the three-year Russia-Ukraine war remain deadlocked. President Donald Trump, frustrated by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to engage in direct talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has signaled potential next steps if diplomacy fails within weeks. Trump previously criticized Putin, saying he “talks nice and then bombs everybody,” yet the White House offered no public condemnation of this attack, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noting Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil refineries.
Also Read: Russian Attack Update: 12 Dead, Including Children
Zelenskyy urged global leaders to intensify sanctions and tariffs on Russia, accusing Putin of rejecting peace. “Russia refused to stop the killing—they even said ‘no’ to President Trump,” Zelenskyy posted on X, adding that Putin’s actions show he is “only interested in continuing this war.” Ukraine has accepted a U.S. ceasefire proposal, but Russia’s unchanged demands stall progress.
European Union defense ministers expressed outrage, vowing to increase pressure on Moscow, while Western officials explore security guarantees to deter future Russian invasions if a peace deal emerges. The Atlantic Council noted that Putin doubts the U.S. has the resolve to counter his gains, citing a lack of vital American interests in the conflict.
As Putin prepares to attend a summit in China with Iran and North Korea—nations accused by the U.S. of aiding Russia’s war effort—the upcoming U.N. General Assembly on September 9 is expected to spotlight Russia’s invasion. Meanwhile, Kyiv grapples with grief and destruction, with no immediate end to the conflict in sight.
Also Read: Ukraine Hits Russian Nuclear Plant in Daring Independence Day Strike!
