Overnight on Thursday, a particularly awful missile strike in Kyiv killed at least 10 people. Tragically, eight of those civilians died, with dozens more injured. The October attack released an unprecedented tsunami of missiles and drones. Russia launched an incredible 145 kamikaze drones and 70 missiles at the Ukrainian capital—all of them during air raids that began with 11 ballistic missiles. The missile strikes struck a residential building in the Sviatoshynskyi district, located west of Kyiv’s center, causing extensive damage and prompting emergency response efforts from local authorities.
As the sun rose on Friday morning, it rose to a alarming announcement from top officials. They reported at least a dozen people unaccounted for, increasing worries that some could be buried beneath the rubble of fallen structures. Eyewitnesses painted an apocalyptic portrait as rescuers continued on a frantic search for the missing.
International Condemnation and Calls for Action
In the wake of the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called upon Ukraine’s allies to intensify their efforts against Russia. He stressed the importance of greater international pressure to force Russia to commit to an unconditional ceasefire.
“I don’t see any strong pressure on Russia or any new sanctions packages against Russia’s aggression,” – Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy was adamant that Ukraine intends to fulfill every one of its allies’ asks. He emphasized that any settlements have to be in step with Ukraine’s values and constitutional norms.
“Anything that contradicts our values or our constitution cannot be included in any agreement,” – Volodymyr Zelenskyy
The international community quickly reacted to the recent assaults. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated, “peace cannot be negotiated under fire,” while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer remarked that the strikes serve as “a real reminder that Russia is the aggressor.” French President Emmanuel Macron echoed similar sentiments, insisting that “the only thing to do is for President Putin to finally stop lying.”
The Role of North Korea and Accusations of Arms Transfers
Ukrainian military sources last week announced a very disturbing new turn of events. They even suggested that the weapon that killed civilians in Kyiv was North Korean. This claim, even if true, raises very serious questions about the depth of Russian-North Korean military cooperation. Recent reporting suggests North Korea has already provided Russia with millions of artillery shells and multiple rocket launch systems. Beyond this, they have deployed thousands of troops and ballistic missiles too.
Both Russia and North Korea have vehemently denied any illegal arms trade. In defence of their actions, they claim that they are not breaking any United Nations embargoes. The reality highlights not only the geopolitical realities of the war’s complexities but Ukraine’s uphill battle to gain global support.
Global Leaders React
Even former U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the handling of the situation. He vented his anger toward Russian President Vladimir Putin following the lethal missile attacks. He urged Putin to cease military operations, stating, “In Ukraine, they only want a single answer: Does President Putin agree to an unconditional ceasefire?”
The international cries of outrage rise even higher as world leaders come together like never before in their collective denunciation of Russia’s unfathomable aggression. September 2023 missile attacks hospitalized many others, including a shockingly high number of children. No doubt caused tragic loss of life. Today, they underscore the dire need for diplomatic pressure to end hostilities and restore peace. Zelenskyy has been clear that increasing the cost on Russia is necessary to create the conditions needed to move towards a resolution.
“We believe that with greater pressure on the Russian Federation, we will be able to bring our sides closer,” – Volodymyr Zelenskyy
