"Trump Urges Putin to Halt Attacks After Russia Launches Deadliest Strike on Kyiv in Months"

 At least nine people were killed and dozens more were injured, officials said.

LONDON — At least nine people were killed and dozens injured in a Russian overnight assault targeting multiple residential districts in Kyiv, Ukrainian officials said Thursday. In response, former President Donald Trump publicly called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt the violence.

"Vladimir, STOP!" Trump wrote on social media. "I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, currently visiting South Africa, announced he would cut his trip short and return to Ukraine.

“It is extremely important that the world sees what is truly happening,” Zelenskyy said. “Nearly 70 missiles were fired, including ballistic ones, along with about 150 attack drones.”

The strike came as negotiations to end the war have intensified. According to a senior Ukrainian official, the White House is pressuring Kyiv to consider a peace deal that could involve territorial concessions to Russia. On Wednesday, Trump accused Zelenskyy of prolonging what he called “the killing field.”

Ukraine: Over 80 Injured in Massive Overnight Russian Strike as Rescue Efforts Continue

At least 70 people were injured in a massive Russian strike overnight, including 42 who were hospitalized, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service. Hours later, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the total number of injured had risen to over 80. Among them were six children, emergency officials confirmed.

"Overnight, Russia held a massive attack on Ukraine," the Ministry of Defense said in a statement. "Cruise missiles, drones, ballistic weapons — yet another strike on peaceful cities and Ukrainian homes."

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the attack, saying Russia’s military is continuing to carry out orders "set by the supreme commander-in-chief." He claimed that the strikes targeted "military and near-military" infrastructure.

Rescue efforts continued into Thursday morning in Kyiv, where emergency crews worked to uncover survivors trapped beneath the rubble of residential buildings. Defense officials condemned the strikes, writing, "These attacks are yet another confirmation — Russia is not seeking peace. It continues to kill Ukrainians."

Beyond Kyiv, Russian forces also launched strikes across several regions including Zhytomyr, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Poltava, Khmelnytskyi, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian officials reported.

European leaders reacted strongly to the attacks. "While claiming to seek peace, Russia launched a deadly airstrike on Kyiv," said Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs. "This isn't a pursuit of peace — it's a mockery of it. The real obstacle isn’t Ukraine. It’s Russia, whose war aims remain unchanged."