Belarus Exiled Leader Visits Kyiv After Russian Missile Attack

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya arrived in Kyiv by train on Monday. The visit occurred as city crews cleared debris from Russia's largest missile attack of the year. Tsikhanouskaya said the main goal of her trip was to warn Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko against deeper involvement in the war.

She stated that dragging Belarus into the conflict would be unacceptable.

Zelenskyy said the barrage killed two people and wounded 87 others, including three children. Twenty-one people were hospitalized. The attack damaged buildings near government offices, residential areas, schools, and a market. Shattered glass remained on sidewalks Monday morning.

Macron spoke by telephone with Lukashenko on Sunday, their first call since the full-scale invasion began. A French presidential aide said Macron underscored the risks for Belarus of entering the conflict. Macron also spoke with Zelenskyy on Sunday.

A Belarusian presidential statement said the Lukashenko call took place at France's initiative and covered regional issues and European Union relations. Russia and Belarus conducted joint nuclear drills last week. Zelenskyy has warned in recent days that Belarus could serve as a launchpad for a new northern front.

"Russia hit a dead-end on the battlefield, so it terrorizes Ukraine with deliberate strikes on city centers," European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in an X post. Zelenskyy said Ukrainian intelligence received advance warnings from the United States and European countries about the planned use of Russia's Oreshnik hypersonic missile.

The missile can carry multiple warheads and travel up to ten times the speed of sound, according to Russian statements. Tsikhanouskaya wrote on Telegram that the strikes demonstrate the nature of the Russian government and its disregard for human life and international law.