Russia launched a significant attack on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, on March 9, 2024, employing ballistic missiles and drones that resulted in at least one death and left 27 others injured. The assault began early in the morning and lasted for several hours, just one day before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was set to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida to discuss strategies for concluding the ongoing conflict.
Describing the attack as a stark message regarding Russia’s stance on peace negotiations, Zelenskyy stated, “This attack is Russia’s answer on our peace efforts. It really shows that President Vladimir Putin doesn’t want peace.” His remarks followed a meeting in Halifax, Canada, with Prime Minister Mark Carney, who announced $1.8 billion in economic aid for Ukraine aimed at facilitating reconstruction and development through support from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
The Russian Defense Ministry characterized the offensive as a “massive strike,” deploying “long-range precision-guided weapons from land, air, and sea, including Kinzhal hypersonic aeroballistic missiles.” Although the ministry claimed the strikes targeted military and energy infrastructure, several residential buildings sustained damage. This escalation came in response to alleged attacks by Ukraine on “civilian objects” within Russia.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia targeted Kyiv with a total of 519 drones and 40 missiles. Zelenskyy indicated that the primary focus was on energy and civilian infrastructure, leading to power and heating outages in various districts of the capital.
Casualties and Human Impact
The strikes inflicted serious damage on the city, with over ten residential buildings reported damaged. Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko provided updates through social media, noting that the fatalities included a civilian who was trapped during the strikes. Eyewitness accounts, such as that of local resident Olena Karpenko, detailed the harrowing experience of witnessing a man perish in the flames following an explosion. “His scream is still in my ears. I can’t believe it,” she expressed, reflecting on the shock and devastation felt by residents.
Emergency services worked tirelessly to respond to the chaos. A fire erupted in an 18-story building in the Dnipro district, while other fires were reported in the Darnytsia, Obolonskyi, and Holosiivsky districts. Search and rescue operations continued throughout the day, with crews successfully extracting individuals trapped under debris.
The attack prompted heightened security responses in neighboring Poland, which scrambled fighter jets and temporarily closed airports in Lublin and Rzeszow. The Polish armed forces reported no violations of their airspace, yet the precautionary measures underscored the pervasive tension stemming from the conflict.
Negotiations on Security and Territorial Issues
As Zelenskyy prepared for his discussions with Trump, he expressed his commitment to resolving as many outstanding issues as possible while maintaining Ukraine’s sovereignty. He indicated that the focus would be on establishing security guarantees akin to NATO’s Article 5, which stipulates a collective defense response to aggression.
Territorial disputes, particularly concerning the Donetsk region and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, are expected to be high on the agenda. Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s firm position, stating that the country would never recognize any territory as Russian “under any circumstances.”
The upcoming meeting is seen as a critical moment in the ongoing negotiations aimed at addressing the complexities of the conflict that has persisted for nearly four years. The impacts of Russia’s recent attacks serve as a stark reminder of the challenges facing both leaders as they navigate the path toward peace.
Contributions from Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, and Rob Gillies in Toronto provided additional insights into the evolving situation. For ongoing updates, follow the coverage of the conflict.
