Kiev, June 16 (EFE).- Kiev has been shaken this morning by the explosions of the Ukrainian air defenses that responded to a missile attack launched by the Russian forces, shortly after a delegation of African leaders arrived in the city to meet with President Volodimir Zelensky.
“Explosions in the capital. In the Podil area. In kyiv there are still missiles in the air,” the city’s mayor, Vitali Klichkó, wrote on his Telegram account.
The city’s Military Administration confirmed that the anti-aircraft defenses were activated to face the attack.
A message for Africa
An African peacekeeping mission led by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Ukraine today for the first stop on a tour that will also take them to Moscow.
At the time of the explosions, the African leaders were in the town of Bucha, on the outskirts of kyiv.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba wrote just after the attack: “Putin ‘builds trust’ by launching the biggest missile attack on Kiev in weeks right in the middle of a visit by African leaders to our capital.”
The head of Ukrainian diplomacy added: “Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace.”
With its trip to Ukraine and Russia, the African delegation seeks to explore formulas to move towards a ceasefire in the war.