Russia launched an intense missile and drone attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv overnight, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported Thursday, hours after U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg for peace talks.
Zelenskyy stated on Telegram that Russia deployed 21 ballistic missiles toward Kyiv in three waves. He reported numerous hits and damages to residential buildings, energy infrastructure, a railway station, a metro station, shopping centers, businesses, and even a monastery. At least two people were killed and 34 injured in Kyiv and surrounding areas, according to Zelenskyy.
Ukraine's air force indicated that Russia employed a mix of ballistic and cruise missiles, none of which were intercepted. The air force also reported that Russia launched 210 drones, with 181 shot down or suppressed, and that impacts were registered in 32 locations.
Beyond Kyiv, at least two people were killed and 17 injured in a Russian airstrike on a market in the northeastern Kharkiv region, local officials reported.
The Russian strikes followed Witkoff's diplomatic engagement, which included meetings with Zelenskyy in Oslo and then with Putin in St. Petersburg. Witkoff described these discussions as constructive and noted that they would continue at a technical level between the United States, Russia, and Ukraine.
Zelenskyy characterized the Russian strikes as "demonstrative," suggesting "no real changes in its attitude towards everything that is happening." He also appeared to criticize Witkoff's description of Putin as a "humanitarian" during their meeting.
"When Russian ballistic missiles are the response to negotiations, real pressure must be applied to Russia to encourage different actions," Zelenskyy stated. "Strengthening air defense, the rapid supply of missiles, the ability to destroy ballistic missile launch systems and sanctions for the war -- all of this is necessary."
Concurrently, Ukraine reported conducting its own long-range strikes into Russia. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin announced a significant attack on the Russian capital involving at least 630 Ukrainian drones, marking one of the largest such assaults this year. Several buildings, including residential properties, sustained damage, with two injuries reported in the capital and two in other towns.
Russia's Defense Ministry claimed its forces downed at least 808 Ukrainian drones overnight, with interceptions occurring across 17 Russian regions, occupied Crimea, and the Black Sea.
Russia's federal air transport agency, Rosaviatsiya, reported temporary flight restrictions at Moscow's four international airports—Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Zhukovsky, and Sheremetyevo—as well as at airports in Pskov, Tambov, Sochi, Gelendzhik, Kaluga, and Yaroslavl.