Zelenskyy cuts South Africa visit short after deadly missile strike on Kyiv
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was forced to cut short his first official visit to South Africa on April 24, 2025, after a massive Russian missile and drone assault on Kyiv left at least nine people dead and more than 70 injured, including six children.
Described as the deadliest attack on the Ukrainian capital since July 2024, the strike involved at least 70 missiles and 145 drones, according to Ukrainian officials. A military source confirmed that a North Korean KN-23 ballistic missile was among the weapons used in the barrage, which primarily targeted Kyiv.
Zelenskyy arrived in Pretoria late Wednesday night and is currently meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Union Buildings. The two leaders are discussing strengthening bilateral cooperation and advancing peace efforts amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, now entering its fourth year.
However, in light of the devastating attack, Zelenskyy canceled the remainder of his visit and will be departing South Africa immediately after the meeting, citing the urgent need to return to Ukraine and oversee the response to the crisis.