Russian forces launched an assault on Ukraine’s capital using missiles and drones early Saturday, resulting in one fatality and injuring 27 individuals, according to local officials. Explosions reverberated throughout Kyiv for hours as ballistic missiles and drones targeted the city, with the violence commencing in the early morning hours and persisting into daylight.

The attack coincided with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s scheduled meetings with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Halifax and later with U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida, aiming to resolve the long-standing Russia-Ukraine conflict. President Zelenskyy and Trump plan to address security assurances and territorial disputes in eastern Ukraine during their discussions.

The Russian Defence Ministry claimed responsibility for a “massive strike” involving long-range precision-guided weapons, including hypersonic missiles and drones, targeting energy infrastructure facilities utilized by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and military-industrial complexes. The ministry alleged the strike was in retaliation for Ukraine’s purported attacks on civilian sites in Russia.

In response to the Russian assaults, Poland deployed fighter jets and temporarily closed airports near the Ukrainian border. However, there were no airspace violations reported. The affected airports have since resumed operations, although the reason for the alert in Poland during the Kyiv attacks remains unclear.

President Zelenskyy criticized the recent offensive, highlighting the extensive damage caused to residential buildings and infrastructure, with power and heating outages in certain areas. He expressed disappointment in Russia’s aggressive response to peace negotiations, emphasizing the need for security guarantees and condemning the attacks on civilian populations.

The assault resulted in casualties, including children among the wounded, as well as extensive structural damage in various districts of Kyiv. Emergency services responded to fires in residential buildings, with rescue efforts underway to locate and assist trapped individuals. President Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of security assurances and reiterated Ukraine’s stance on territorial sovereignty.

Zelenskyy is set to engage in further discussions with European leaders to provide updates on the ongoing negotiations and seek support for Ukraine’s security concerns.