KYIV, May 14 (Agencies): Russia pummelled Kyiv for hours early on Thursday with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles in an attack that killed at least five people and further shredded hopes of a halt to Moscow's grinding invasion.
AFP journalists in the capital heard air raid sirens wailing out over the city before several hours of thunderous explosions and flashes in the sky sent Kyiv residents running to shelter in metro stations.
The Ukrainian air force said Russia had launched 675 attack drones and 56 missiles, mainly at Kyiv, adding its air defence units had downed 652 of the drones and 41 missiles.
"Everything was burning. People were screaming... people were shouting," Andriy, a Kyiv resident still wearing a nightgown and with blood stains on his shirt, told AFP near a collapsed Soviet-era residential building.
Meanwhile, Russia is establishing a "full-fledged partnership" with Afghanistan's ruling Taliban and is encouraging other countries in the region to expand cooperation with Kabul, a senior Russian security official was quoted on Thursday as saying.
Russia last year became the first country to formally recognise the Islamist Taliban government that seized power in August 2021 as US-led forces staged a chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of war.
Interfax news agency quoted Russian official Sergei Shoigu as saying cooperation with Kabul was important for the security and development of the region.
Russia pummels Kyiv, killing five and denting peace hopes
FE Team | Published: May 14, 2026 21:37:48
Russia pummels Kyiv, killing five and denting peace hopes
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