London, UK – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has condemned Russia, Iran, and North Korea as a “coalition of murderers” following a devastating aerial attack on Kyiv that left at least 10 people dead and dozens injured.
Zelenskyy delivered the remarks during a visit to London on Monday, where he met with newly elected UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss deepening defense cooperation and ramping up international pressure on Moscow.
The visit came just hours after Ukraine was hit by one of the most intense coordinated assaults since the start of the war, involving 352 drones—many of them Iranian-made Shahed models—as well as North Korean ballistic missiles.
“Many drones and missiles were intercepted by our air defense forces—but not all,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media. “Everyone in countries neighboring Russia, Iran, and North Korea should think carefully about whether they could protect lives if this coalition of murderers persists.”
Zelenskyy described the assault as a “completely cynical strike,” noting that five apartment buildings in Kyiv were severely damaged. Photos from the Shevchenkivskyi district show firefighters sifting through the rubble of a partially collapsed five-story residential block.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed at least six deaths in the district. Emergency services rescued 10 people, including a pregnant woman, from a nearby high-rise that was also struck.
Zelenskyy has repeatedly criticized Tehran for providing drones and other support to Russia’s war effort, which has now entered its fourth year. Ukraine, which gave up its nuclear arsenal in the 1990s in exchange for security guarantees from the U.S., UK, and Russia, has argued those promises were shattered by Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion.
The Ukrainian president has also expressed support for the recent U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling them necessary to deter further aggression from Tehran and its allies.
Diplomatic and Military Strategy Talks
During his London visit, Zelenskyy toured a Ukrainian military training facility in the UK and held a private meeting with King Charles III at Windsor Castle. His primary goal, however, was to strengthen coordination with the UK on sanctions against Russia and discuss responses to U.S. policy shifts under the Trump administration.
“We will be negotiating new and powerful steps to increase pressure on Russia for this war and to put an end to the strikes,” Zelenskyy said.
His visit follows a tense meeting in Washington earlier this year, during which President Donald Trump accused Zelenskyy of “gambling with World War Three,” and Vice President JD Vance criticized Ukraine’s leadership for what he described as a lack of gratitude for American aid.
Zelenskyy also addressed the halt in U.S. weapons deliveries to Kyiv, warning that delays in international support risk emboldening Russia and its allies.
Looking Ahead to NATO Summit
Zelenskyy is expected to attend the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague, where he will meet with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. It remains uncertain whether he will meet President Trump, who is due to arrive on Tuesday and is expected to renew calls for increased defense spending by NATO members.
Meanwhile, Russia has escalated its aerial offensive. Monday’s barrage targeted residential neighborhoods, hospitals, and sports facilities across Kyiv, with Shevchenkivskyi district absorbing the worst of the destruction.
“I heard the whistle of a rocket and froze in terror,” said Oleksii Pozychaniuk, a 29-year-old Kyiv resident. “Windows blew out, glass was flying everywhere. We barely made it downstairs with my child. Everything here was on fire.”
The scale and coordination of the attacks appear to mark a new phase in Russia’s campaign, fueled by external support from Iran and North Korea—further reinforcing the Ukrainian president’s warning of an emerging alliance of authoritarian states threatening global security.
