Russia launched a massive overnight strike against Kyiv, killing at least 12 people in what officials described as the largest attack on the Ukrainian capital this year. The assault prompted an unusual public rebuke from Donald Trump, who directly addressed the Russian president with “Vladimir, STOP!”
The attack, which Trump called “not necessary” and “very bad timing” as he pursues peace negotiations, injured 90 people, damaged buildings, and ignited fires across the city. Rescue workers were still recovering bodies from the rubble more than 12 hours later.
This strike comes at a critical juncture in Russia’s war in Ukraine, which began with Moscow’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Both Kyiv and Moscow are attempting to demonstrate to Trump that they are making progress toward his goal of a swift peace agreement.
“I am not happy with the Russian strikes on Kyiv. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
The White House has threatened to abandon peace efforts without prompt progress. Trump criticized Zelenskiy on Wednesday after the Ukrainian leader reiterated that Kyiv would not recognize Russia’s occupation of Crimea.
Trump has employed notably gentler language when discussing Putin compared to Zelenskyy, whom he once called a “dictator.” A U.S. official indicated Trump’s special envoy is scheduled to meet Putin on Friday for further discussions.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio decided against attending talks between American, Ukrainian, and European officials in London on Wednesday, reportedly due to American frustration over Zelenskiy’s Crimea comments.
The talks proceeded in a reduced format, and Zelenskiy stated Thursday that the meeting with a U.S. representative had been challenging but constructive. He believes a document with proposals from the talks has now reached Trump’s desk.
“Anything that contradicts our values or our constitution cannot be included in any agreement,” Zelenskiy told a press conference in South Africa, which he left early following the Russian strike. He added that he did not see evidence of Washington exerting significant pressure on Russia.
When asked if he thought Putin would heed his appeal to stop missile strikes, Trump responded, “I do.” He also mentioned having his “own deadline” for achieving a Russia-Ukraine peace settlement, without specifying what it was.
Emergency teams were operating at 13 sites in Kyiv with climbing specialists and sniffer dogs. Forty fires had erupted across the city.
“Mobile telephones are heard ringing beneath rubble. The search will continue until it becomes clear that they have got everyone,” emergency services reported.
Russia’s Defence Ministry stated it conducted what it described as a massive overnight strike against Ukraine’s military-industrial complex using various long-range precision weapons and drones.
Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, updated the death toll: “Rescuers have retrieved two more bodies from under the rubble in the Sviatoshynskyi district. We now have 12 dead.”
The strikes caused fires in garages and administrative buildings, with falling debris damaging vehicles.
“There was the air raid siren; we did not even have time to dress to go out of the apartment. One blast came after the other; all windows were blown out, doors, walls, my husband and son were thrown to the other side,” said Kyiv resident Viktoria Bakal.
A Ukrainian military source told Reuters that the missile striking a residential building in the Sviatoshynskyi district was a North Korean KN-23 (KN-23A) ballistic missile.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha posted on X that the “brutal strikes” demonstrated that Russia, not Ukraine, was obstructing peace.
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 145 drones and 70 missiles, including 11 ballistic missiles, in the overnight attack. Air defense units intercepted 112 targets.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko noted that beyond Kyiv and its surrounding region, seven other regions faced “mass” attacks. Damage was reported in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city; the Zhytomyr region west of Kyiv; and the industrial city of Pavlohrad in the central Dnipropetrovsk region.
About the author
US Cuts Tariffs on UK Cars and PlanesโBut Steel Industry Left Behind
Tariff reductions for UK automotive and aerospace sectors have taken effect following Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's completion of negotiations for relief from US import duties. UK car manufacturers exporting to America now face a reduced 10% tariff quota, down from the previous 27.5%, while aerospace companies will see a 10% levy eliminated completely. Sir Keir described the agreement as a "historic trade deal" with the US, secured after President Donald Trump implemented import taxes as part of his "liberation day" tariffs affecting countries globally. The Prime Minister and US President finalized the sectoral agreement during the G7 summit, though steel tariffs remain at 25% instead of being reduced to zero as initially negotiated. Discussions continue regarding securing 0% tariffs on core UK steel products destined for US markets. Trump's executive order indicates the US seeks guarantees regarding UK steel […]
Teen Killer Faces Murder Trial After Fatal School Stabbing
A 15-year-old defendant is scheduled to stand trial for murder charges following the fatal stabbing of Harvey Willgoose, also 15, at All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield on February 3. The accused teenager, whose identity remains protected by law, has entered a guilty plea to manslaughter charges but maintains innocence regarding the murder charge. The trial will commence Monday at Sheffield Crown Court. The defendant has also acknowledged possession of a bladed weapon in connection with the incident. Harvey Willgoose sustained fatal injuries after being stabbed through the heart during the February incident at the Sheffield school. The event generated widespread shock throughout Sheffield and across the country. The victim has been admitted guilty to possessing a bladed article as part of the charges. At Harvey's February funeral service, family and friends remembered him as a "social butterfly" who […]
Government Modifies Welfare Reforms Following Criticism, Vote Scheduled for Next Week
The Government has announced significant changes to its welfare reform proposals ahead of a crucial parliamentary vote next week, following widespread criticism of what opponents labeled a "two-tier" system for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) recipients. Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressed confidence that the Government would secure victory in the upcoming vote, stating that the modifications "have put us in a much better position" and provide "peace of mind" to current PIP recipients. The original welfare package proposed restricting PIP eligibility across all recipients, but the Government has now revised its approach. Following pressure from backbench MPs and the threat of a rebellion, the changes will now apply only to new applicants, protecting existing recipients from reassessment. Streeting defended this approach as standard practice for policy transitions, comparing it to changes in student finance systems. "When things change and evolve as […]
Prime Minister Addresses Welfare Reform at Welsh Labour Conference
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer addressed the Welsh Labour conference, stating that while there is consensus on the need for welfare system reform, Labour will maintain support for vulnerable people. Speaking in Llandudno following recent policy reversals prompted by parliamentary opposition, Starmer emphasized that reforms must align with Labour principles. "We cannot take away the safety net that vulnerable people rely on, and we won't, but we also can't let it become a snare for those who can and want to work," the Prime Minister stated. Starmer characterized the current welfare system as requiring urgent attention, citing daily failures, challenges facing young people, and escalating costs. He described reform as "a moral imperative" while maintaining it must be approached "in a Labour way." The Prime Minister praised Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan, describing her as a "fierce champion" and "the […]
Irish Rap Trio Kneecap Performs at Glastonbury Amid Controversy
Belfast-based rap group Kneecap took to the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival on Saturday, with member Mo Chara declaring "Glastonbury, I'm a free man" during their performance. The trio has been subject to significant media attention following charges against member Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs as Mo Chara, related to a terror offence. Prior to their stage appearance, news broadcasts containing criticism of the hip hop group played through the sound system, which were met with boos from festival attendees. Festival organizers restricted access to the West Holts Stage area approximately 45 minutes before the performance as crowds gathered, displaying Irish and Palestinian flags. Leading up to the Somerset festival, multiple politicians requested the group's removal from the lineup. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated their performance would not be "appropriate". The BBC announced on Saturday that they […]
Body Found in Coventry Woods: Two Men Charged in Connection with Missing Woman Case
Two men have appeared in court following charges related to the disappearance of 34-year-old Reanne Coulson, who went missing in May. West Midlands Police discovered a body in Binley Woods, located on the outskirts of Coventry, on Friday afternoon. The family of Ms Coulson has been informed of this development. Mohammed Durnion, aged 42, was charged with murder and appeared before Coventry Magistrates' Court on Saturday. He has been remanded in custody and will face a preliminary hearing at Warwick Crown Court on Tuesday. A second individual, Adam Moore, 38, from Coventry, has been charged with assisting an offender. Moore also appeared at Coventry Magistrates' Court on Saturday and is scheduled to appear at Warwick Crown Court on July 24, where he will remain in custody. Ms Coulson was last observed in the city during May. Her family became concerned […]
Related
US Cuts Tariffs on UK Cars and PlanesโBut Steel Industry Left Behind
Tariff reductions for UK automotive and aerospace sectors have taken effect following Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's completion of negotiations for relief from US import duties. UK car manufacturers exporting to America now face a reduced 10% tariff quota, down from the previous 27.5%, while aerospace companies will see a 10% levy eliminated completely. Sir Keir described the agreement as a "historic trade deal" with the US, secured after President Donald Trump implemented import taxes as part of his "liberation day" tariffs affecting countries globally. The Prime Minister and US President finalized the sectoral agreement during the G7 summit, though steel tariffs remain at 25% instead of being reduced to zero as initially negotiated. Discussions continue regarding securing 0% tariffs on core UK steel products destined for US markets. Trump's executive order indicates the US seeks guarantees regarding UK steel […]
Teen Killer Faces Murder Trial After Fatal School Stabbing
A 15-year-old defendant is scheduled to stand trial for murder charges following the fatal stabbing of Harvey Willgoose, also 15, at All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield on February 3. The accused teenager, whose identity remains protected by law, has entered a guilty plea to manslaughter charges but maintains innocence regarding the murder charge. The trial will commence Monday at Sheffield Crown Court. The defendant has also acknowledged possession of a bladed weapon in connection with the incident. Harvey Willgoose sustained fatal injuries after being stabbed through the heart during the February incident at the Sheffield school. The event generated widespread shock throughout Sheffield and across the country. The victim has been admitted guilty to possessing a bladed article as part of the charges. At Harvey's February funeral service, family and friends remembered him as a "social butterfly" who […]
Government Modifies Welfare Reforms Following Criticism, Vote Scheduled for Next Week
The Government has announced significant changes to its welfare reform proposals ahead of a crucial parliamentary vote next week, following widespread criticism of what opponents labeled a "two-tier" system for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) recipients. Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressed confidence that the Government would secure victory in the upcoming vote, stating that the modifications "have put us in a much better position" and provide "peace of mind" to current PIP recipients. The original welfare package proposed restricting PIP eligibility across all recipients, but the Government has now revised its approach. Following pressure from backbench MPs and the threat of a rebellion, the changes will now apply only to new applicants, protecting existing recipients from reassessment. Streeting defended this approach as standard practice for policy transitions, comparing it to changes in student finance systems. "When things change and evolve as […]
Trump Strikes Iran After Israeli Attack Kills 600 As Western Media Bias Exposed
On June 22, American warplanes entered Iranian airspace and dropped 14 bombs following Israeli military action that resulted in 600 Iranian casualties. US President Donald Trump, accompanied by his vice president and two secretaries, announced that "Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace." The attack occurred during Israel's 12-day military operation against Iran. Western media coverage during this period focused primarily on Israelis in bunkers rather than Iranian civilian casualties, including children affected by the conflict. This pattern extends to Gaza coverage over the past 20 months. Official counts report over 55,000 deaths, with some estimates suggesting higher numbers. Most hospitals and schools in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed during the conflict. Human rights organizations Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have declared Israel's actions constitute genocide, though most Western media outlets avoid using this […]
Funeral Home Owner Gets 20 Years For Hoarding Bodies And Fake Ashes Scam
A Colorado funeral home owner received a 20-year prison sentence for storing 191 decomposing bodies at his facility while providing families with fake ashes and defrauding federal COVID-19 relief programs. Jon Hallford, owner of Return to Nature Funeral Home, was sentenced Friday by US District Judge Nina Wang, who exceeded the prosecution's 15-year recommendation due to the extraordinary nature of his crimes and the emotional harm inflicted on families. "This is not an ordinary fraud case," Judge Wang stated while imposing the maximum 240-month sentence. The grim discovery occurred in 2023 when investigators responded to reports of an "abhorrent smell" emanating from the dilapidated building in Penrose, located 160 kilometers south of Denver. Inside the insect-infested facility, they found human remains stacked on top of each other, with some rooms so filled with bodies that entry was impossible. FBI agents […]
Trump Predicts Gaza Ceasefire Deal Within One Week
President Donald Trump expressed optimism about reaching a Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, stating he believes an agreement could be achieved within a week. Speaking to reporters Friday, Trump made the unexpected announcement after discussing the situation with unspecified parties involved in ceasefire efforts. "I think it's close. I just spoke to some of the people involved," Trump said. "We think within the next week we're going to get a ceasefire," he added, without identifying his contacts. Al Jazeera's Nour Odeh, reporting from Amman, noted that while Trump's comments would be "welcome news" to Gaza's population, she cautioned that "no negotiations at this moment happening anywhere in the region" are currently taking place. Odeh explained that ceasefire discussions have increased significantly following the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire. However, she noted Israel's reluctance to discuss ending the war, with Netanyahu potentially facing […]
Be the first to leave a comment