Zelenskyy cuts short South African trip after massive Russian strike on Kyiv

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia attacked Kyiv with an hourslong barrage of missiles and drones, killing at least nine people and injuring more than 70 in its deadliest assault on the Ukrainian capital since last July and just as peace efforts are coming to a head.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after the attack he is cutting short his official trip to South Africa and returning home as the city reeled from the bombardment that kept residents on edge for about 11 hours. It appeared to be Russia’s biggest attack on Kyiv in nine months, and Zelenskyy called it one of Russia’s ”most outrageous.”

The attack drew a rare rebuke of Russian President Vladimir Putin from U.S. President Donald Trump, who said he was “not happy” with it.

“Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP!” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-kyiv-strike-913ca4a6b4e624ed50e6c1018576a8ad?taid=6809f0290c1f320001015573