Russian attacks on Kyiv leave at least 22 dead, Zelensky expected to meet Trump at NATO summit

A new wave of Russian bombardments struck Kyiv and nearby areas overnight, killing at least 22 people and injuring dozens, just hours before the opening of the NATO summit in Turkey, where the war in Ukraine is expected to be at the center of discussions.

According to the Ukrainian authorities, 15 people were killed in Kyiv, while seven others lost their lives in Vishnevo, a town on the outskirts of the capital. Meanwhile, rescue teams are continuing to search through the rubble, as some people are still missing.

AFP reporters said emergency services pulled bodies from the rubble of an eight-story building in Kyiv, while the cries and shouts of relatives could be heard at the scene.

Authorities said about 30 buildings were damaged in the attacks, including residential complexes in the Poznyaki and Podilskyi neighborhoods. One local resident, 36-year-old Anna Misko, said she and her child managed to escape after going down to a shelter as soon as the air raid alarms were heard.

In Vishnevo, rescue teams are continuing their search through the rubble, while more than 600 residents have been evacuated because of the danger posed by unexploded ordnance.

For its part, the Russian military said the attacks were a response to Ukrainian operations on Russian territory and insisted that military and energy infrastructure had been targeted.

According to Ukrainian air defense, Russia launched 68 missiles and 351 drones overnight, of which 37 missiles and 326 drones were neutralized.

The attacks came on the eve of the NATO summit in Turkey, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to meet US President Donald Trump, in the hope of giving fresh momentum to diplomatic efforts to end the war, which has been ongoing for more than four years.