“Putin’s missile attack on Kyiv leaves at least 9 dead in deadliest strike on Ukraine’s capital since war began”

VLADIMIR Putin’s latest barbaric missile assault has targeted civilians in Kyiv with at least nine people killed and dozens seriously injured.

Six children were taken to the hospital after the deadliest attack on Ukraine’s capital since Russia’s full-scale invasion over three years ago, according to local officials.

At least nine people were tragically killed with over 63 wounded, Ukraine‘s State Emergency Service said.

Of these, 42 were taken to hospital in a serious condition – including a pregnant woman.

Fears are mounting that as recovery operations across the capital continue, more bodies may be found.

The deadly strikes hit five districts across Kyiv and quickly turned the city into a burning warzone.

Flames could be seen from miles away with dozens of buildings left crumbling to the ground due to the strikes.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko believes falling drone wreckage was responsible for triggering a number of fires.

Close Volodymyr Zelensky aid Andriy Yermak added: “Putin shows only a desire to kill. The attacks on civilians must stop.”

Footage shows the rescue workers desperately trying to clear the collapsed buildings into the early hours of Thursday morning.

Shell shocked civilians were seen being led away from their family homes and residential blocks clutching onto their belongings.

Many were alerted of the strikes as they peacefully slept.

Thousands quickly escaped their homes and managed to find cover in temporary air raid shelters across the city.

Many gathered in underground rail stations as others huddled in school basements together.

Kyiv was last hit by missiles in early April when at least three people were wounded.

Blasts were also reported in the city of Kharkiv with at least two people were injured, the mayor added.

Just hours earlier, Russia unleashed more deadly strikes on civilians in Ukraine — killing nine when a kamikaze drone hit a bus.

The lethal attack in Marhanets, in the Dnipropetrovsk region, injured another 30 people.

Further drone strikes triggered numerous fires and hit civilian infrastructure in the strategically vital Black Sea port of Odesa.

Another blitz injured six in central city Poltava, while Iranian-designed drones set off fires around the country’s second largest city, Kharkiv.

The Zaporizhzhia region was again targeted — a day after a strike on a civilian factory injured 38.

Ukraine‘s air force warned this morning that they believe all the country’s regions are now under the threat of aerial attacks.

The week of barbaric assaults carried out by Moscow come as US President Donald Trump continues to seek out a deal to end the conflict.

On Wednesday night he announced a deal with Russia is ready – but that Zelensky is yet to agree to the pact.

Trump went on to blast Zelensky for refusing to accept any deal which would allow Russia to legally control Crimea.

In a passionate post on Truth Social, the Republican stated that a peace agreement was “very close”, but emphasized that it could only be achieved if Zelensky refrains from “boasting” and successfully completes the task at hand.

He went on to ramp up pressure on the Ukrainian leader, warning that Kyiv’s refusal to compromise on Crimea risks prolonging the war.

Trump said: “We are very close to a Deal, but the man with ‘no cards to play’ should now, finally, GET IT DONE.

“He can have Peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country.”

Trump has been trying to forge a peace deal since he took power in January with his patience now seeming to be near breaking-point.

The US efforts to broker peace have included several meetings between Putin and special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Vladimir Putin reportedly informed Trump’s representative that Moscow was willing to withdraw troops and possibly relinquish claims to four partially-occupied Ukrainian regions that are currently under Kyiv’s authority in order to secure a peace deal.

It comes as The Telegraph reported on a seven-point peace plan being drawn up by the US, which could allow Russia to keep various land seized from Ukraine.

According to the plan, Putin would stay close to the territory his cannon fodder troops have seized from Zelensky, as outlined in an unconfirmed seven-point plan to end the war.

It would leave Ukraine with no clear US security guarantee.

And includes the US offering formal recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea while implying de facto recognition of other occupied territories.