Russia Strikes Kyiv Hours After Putin Agrees to Resume Talks With Ukraine
Kyiv – Russia launched a massive ballistic missile attack on the Ukrainian capital hours after President Vladimir Putin agreed to resume trilateral negotiations with the United States and Ukraine. The overnight strikes killed at least two people and wounded 22, including four children, according to Ukrainian officials. Targets included the southern bridge over the Dnipro River, civilian housing, energy infrastructure, an ambulance station, office buildings, and a clinic. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that three of the missiles carried cluster warheads. One strike hit the Pecherskyi district, damaging historic structures including a monastery. Zelenskyy described the attack as deliberate, noting the choice of weapon and target area was intended to inflict maximum loss on civilians. He said the strikes demonstrated Russia’s lack of seriousness about peace.
The bombardment occurred shortly after US envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin in St Petersburg on Wednesday. During the talks, Witkoff praised Putin, calling him a humanitarian. In a social media post early Thursday, Zelenskyy sarcastically referred to the attackers as Russian humanitarians, stating that 21 missiles had been launched in three waves. He thanked Western partners who recognized the Kremlin’s true intentions and called for stronger air defenses, Patriot interceptors, and additional sanctions against Moscow. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha added that appeasement and flattery would not stop Russian aggression. Downing Street rejected Witkoff’s description of Putin, pointing out that the Russian president had killed thousands of Ukrainians and his own soldiers.
On Wednesday, Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said Putin agreed in principle to resume three-way negotiations after 10 November. Kyiv officials believe Russia intends to destroy Ukraine’s energy infrastructure before winter, leaving millions without heat or power. Zelenskyy confirmed that the US has resumed intelligence warnings of Russian missile attacks. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported that President Trump called Elon Musk to reverse a slowdown of Starshield, the military version of Starlink. This restriction had previously hindered Ukraine’s ability to intercept drones. Some Ukrainian officials told the Journal the system improved after the call but remained below previous capabilities. The New York Times reported that dozens of armed drones fell from the sky when the slowdown began.
Vladimir, commander of a Kyiv air-defense unit, said US restrictions hampered his ability to intercept enemy targets. He expressed feeling betrayed by Washington. The dispute over drone capabilities marks the most serious row between Washington and Kyiv since Russia’s full-scale invasion. It followed Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Russian diesel to lower US fuel prices. European diplomats concede the US appears to have switched sides. Russia claimed it shot down hundreds of Ukrainian drones overnight. One man was killed and another wounded in Belgorod region due to a Ukrainian aerial strike. Additionally, details emerged of a Ukrainian counterattack through tunnels in Kupiansk. The Khartia corps advanced 15km into enemy rear lines during Operation Veles. Brig Gen Ihor Obolienskyi said soldiers crawled through tunnels without communication or GPS. The corps reported killing about 100 Russians and taking 30 prisoners. This report was produced in the Europe Brief News newsroom.
