Russia launched a series of missiles in Kiev on Friday, 12 of which were shot down by Ukrainian forces, an attack that coincides with a visit by a delegation of African leaders seeking a way out of the conflict.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, six Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and two reconnaissance drones were shot down.
The commander of the Kiev military administration, Sergei Popko, said everyone in the capital was intercepted.
According to Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba, these bombings are a message from Moscow to the African mediators, who will meet this Friday with the Ukrainian president, Volodymir Zelensky, and later with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. , on Saturday.
“Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace,” he tweeted.
The mayor of the Ukrainian capital reported shortly before that there had been an explosion in the Podil district.
“The missiles are still flying over Kiev,” he added.
AFP journalists heard explosions, but it was not possible at the time to determine whether there were any casualties or damage.
The whole country went on anti-aircraft alert.
“There are threats with ballistic weapons in the center, east and west, stay in shelters,” the Ukrainian air forces said on Telegram.
The delegation of African leaders to mediate the conflict, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, was in Kiev on Friday and traveled to Russia on Saturday.
The delegation visited Bucha, on the outskirts of Kiev and the scene of a massacre of civilians blamed on the Russian army.
South Africa, criticized for its proximity to Moscow, refuses to condemn the Russian invasion and says it wants to remain neutral and urges dialogue.
African countries have criticized Russia’s February 2022 war in Ukraine with less unanimity than Western powers.
Source: DN
