June 16 (UPI) -- The Ukrainian capital of Kyiv was targeted by Russian missiles trikes as a peace delegation of African leaders visited the city Friday as part of an initiative to try to end the 16-month-long conflict
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram that blasts were reported in Kyiv shortly before the delegation arrived.
"Explosion in the capital. In the Podilsky district, Missiles are still flying at Kyiv," Klitschko wrote.
The Ukrainian Air Force wrote on Telegram that forces were able to repel several of the missiles launched toward Ukraine.
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"According to preliminary data the following were destroyed: 6 'Kinzhal' aeroballistic missiles -- 6 Kalibr cruise missiles -- 2 reconnaissance UAVs," it said.
Ukrainian authorities said six people were injured in Kyiv Oblast, including an 82-year-old woman.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the strikes were a sign of Russia's intentions.
"Putin 'builds confidence' by launching the largest missile attack on Kyiv in weeks, exactly amid the visit of African leaders to our capital. Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace," Kuleba tweeted Friday.
The seven leaders, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi and President of the African Union and Comoros Azali Assoumani, was set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Friday and will also travel to St. Petersburg on Saturday for meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin with hopes of negotiating "a resumption of talks between the two countries."
"A majority of African countries have suffered from inflation, disruption of their vital grain and fertilizer supplies, and sanctions aimed at isolating one of its major trading partners, Russia. Africa, concerned about the peace so often disturbed at home, aims to facilitate a resumption of talks between the two countries," said the London-based Brazzaville Foundation which is behind the peace mission.
Ahead of their meeting with Zelensky, the leaders traveled outside Kyiv to the town of Bucha, the scene of mass killings of civilians in the early stages of the invasion.
"President Ramaphosa and other African Heads of State & Government participating in the African Leaders Peace Mission now at the St. Andrew's Orthodox Church in the City of Bucha in Kyiv, Ukraine, receiving a briefing ahead of their visit to the Mass Grave where 458 civilians who were killed in the initial stages of the conflict," read a post on the Twitter account of the South African Presidency.
Ramaphosa is under pressure from Washington over arming Russia's war effort and taking part in military exercises with Russia and China in February.
U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety II, who last month accused Ramaphosa's administration of loading weapons onto a Russia-bound cargo vessel, had said the United States wants to see South Africa begin "practicing its non-alignment policy."
Brazzaville Foundation arranged the mission building on diplomatic efforts initiated by a meeting between Senegal President Macky Sall and Putin in Sochi, Russia in June 2022 and foundation delegations to Moscow and Kyiv in December and February.
The foundation -- named for the capital of Congo and the 1988 protocol that saw the withdrawal of foreign forces from Angola and Namibia -- works to develop peace initiatives to address conflicts, mainly in Africa, according to its website.
The delegation is being accompanied by Brazzaville's founding chairman, former international commodities trader Jean-Yves Ollivier who as well as brokering the Brazzaville Protocol, has helped secure the release of hostages in the Central African Republic and negotiated a power-sharing agreement in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
