African leaders who arrived in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv on a peace mission on Friday were greeted by air raid sirens and at least two explosions.
The city’s Mayor, Vitali Klitschko said the explosions came from Ukrainian air defenses, which Ukraine says downed 12 missiles, including six Kalibr cruise missiles and six hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, plus two drones.
Images posted by the Ukrainian Interior Ministry showed damaged homes in the wider Kyiv region.
“Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace”, Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba tweeted.
The attacks came as the president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, arrived in Kyiv on Friday, heading a delegation of African leaders who are seeking to mediate between Ukraine and Russia.
Ramaphosa, who is visiting Ukraine for the first time since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country, will hold talks with Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday before traveling to St. Petersburg on Saturday for talks with Russian President, Vladimir Putin.
Accompanying Ramaphosa are Senegalese President, Macky Sall and Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema, plus representatives of Egypt and the Comoros, as African leaders look to make the continent’s voice heard in the conflict.
