“Objectives achieved, all targets hit”: Russia’s MoD confirms deadly strike on Ukraine that killed 12 in Kyiv, including two children

In a statement following the strike, Russia’s Ministry of Defense described the early morning attack on Kyiv as “high-precision” and said it targeted key sites connected with Ukraine’s military-industrial complex:

“A massive strike was carried out using long-range precision-guided weapons launched from air, land, and sea, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles, against facilities in Ukraine’s aviation, missile-space, mechanical engineering, and armored [vehicle] industries, as well as the production of rocket fuel and gunpowder. The strike’s objectives were achieved. All targets were hit.”

U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the Russian attacks in a post on Truth Social, pointing to their “very bad timing,” calling them “not necessary,” and urging Vladimir Putin to stop the attacks and agree to a peace deal:

“I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded on Telegram, writing: “Forty-four days since Ukraine agreed to a complete ceasefire and strikes. That was the proposal from the United States. Forty-four days since Russia continues to kill people and avoid tough pressure and accountability for it.” Zelensky later added that a total of 200 aerial munitions, including missiles and strike drones, were used in the attack.

Zelensky’s state visit to South Africa was cut short following the strike.

Since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has consistently targeted the country’s civilian infrastructure. One recent attack — against the city of Sumy on Palm Sunday, April 13 — took the lives of 35 people, including two children, after Russian cluster munitions targeted the city center.

Vladimir Putin admitted to attacking civilian targets in the city, arguing that these strikes had been aimed at Ukrainian soldiers and military infrastructure staged in residential and commercial areas. According to Putin, the strike was aimed at Ukrainian troops who had gathered earlier that morning for an awards ceremony connected with the incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region:

“Everyone’s well aware of the strike by our armed forces on the congress center of, I believe, Sumy State University. Is that a civilian facility or not? It is. But an award ceremony was being held there for those who committed crimes in the Kursk Region — both Ukrainian Armed Forces units and nationalists. And these are the people we consider criminals, who deserve retribution for what they did in the border areas, including the Kursk Region. And they received that retribution. [The strike] was carried out specifically to punish them.”

The Insider proved Russia’s claims about Sumy to be false, although a military award ceremony was indeed taking place in the city center at the time of the strike. Contrary to Russia’s claim of killing 60 servicemen in the attack, Ukraine confirmed only one military fatality — Yuriy Yula, commander of the 27th Rocket Artillery Brigade.

Sumy’s regional governor Volodymyr Artiukh was dismissed from his post amid the controversy surrounding the award ceremony.

The Washington Post has reported that the United States faults Ukraine for the recent breakdown of peace talks in London, and that Donald Trump allegedly blames Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky personally. According to the article, Washington was frustrated by Ukraine’s insistence on discussing a ceasefire first, ahead of any other issues.

Axios reported that Ukraine intended to propose a 30-day ceasefire during the London talks. Meanwhile, the U.S. had planned to present its own peace plan, which included a demand that Kyiv recognize Crimea as part of Russia — a condition Zelensky publicly rejected.

“Ukraine will not legally recognize the occupation of Crimea,” Zelensky told reporters. “There is nothing to talk about. It is against our constitution.”