Russia launched a massive bombardment of Kyiv, resulting in 4 deaths and numerous injuries after Moscow rejected the latest peace plan proposed by Western nations. Russia also threatened that European troops deploying to Ukraine would be considered "legitimate military targets," while the city of Lviv was struck by hypersonic missiles.
Kyiv police revealed that Russia conducted a large-scale airstrike on Ukraine's capital, causing fires in several apartment buildings. At least 4 people were killed and no fewer than 24 injured, including rescue workers. The attack occurred shortly after Russia rejected a peacekeeping force plan agreed upon by Ukraine and Western allies.
Under the plan, European forces would deploy to Ukraine after a ceasefire to guarantee security. However, Russia, which claims its invasion since February 2022 aims to block NATO expansion, reiterated its refusal to accept Western forces in Ukraine. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned these forces would be deemed "legitimate military targets" and labeled Ukraine and its U.S. and European allies as the "axis of war."
In Kyiv, multiple waves of drone attacks killed 4 civilians, including an emergency medical worker who was shot while aiding victims before the area was struck again. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported widespread power outages caused by heavy enemy missile strikes.
Meanwhile, on the Russian side, Belgorod regional governor stated that Ukrainian attacks left over 500,000 residents without electricity and heating, and nearly 200,000 without water after damage to infrastructure.
The Ukrainian military issued a nationwide missile alert early Friday (9 Jan) after confirming Russian bombers took off. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that the western city of Lviv was hit by hypersonic missiles near midnight, traveling at about 13,000 kilometers per hour. Local authorities said radiation levels remain normal.
The latest attacks followed a U.S. embassy warning of potential major airstrikes in the coming days, while Ukraine continues to repair electricity and water systems across regions amid a harsh winter.
Diplomatically, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged that a ceasefire agreement remains "far from reality" due to Russia's stance. Moscow called the postwar security guarantee plan "dangerous and destructive." Territorial issues remain a major obstacle, with Russia insisting on controlling the entire Donbas region—a demand Ukraine rejects. Meanwhile, Russian forces claim to have captured another village in the Dnipropetrovsk region amid ongoing advances.
/AFP