Russian air attacks struck Kyiv in the early hours of Tuesday, ending a short lull that coincided with a visit by U.S. peace envoys. Ukrainian officials said two people were killed, at least 10 were wounded and fires broke out across the capital after debris from strikes struck residential areas.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported the casualty figures and described damage to housing and public infrastructure. Local authorities said falling debris ignited fires at a five-storey apartment block and a three-storey residential building in one district, and that the assault had inflicted damage on at least 14 high-rise buildings as well as a dormitory, a school, a clinic, warehouses and other facilities.
The resumption of the strikes followed the departure from Kyiv of U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who had met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Sunday. The pair had previously travelled to Moscow for talks, after which the Kremlin said it did not rule out restarting three-way negotiations.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha criticised the timing of the renewed attack. On X he said: "The moment the U.S. president's peace envoys left, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin launched another massive, horrific attack against Kyiv." Sybiha added: "His ballistic missiles speak louder than his words on diplomacy," and urged partners to increase pressure on Moscow and supply interceptors to counter ballistic missiles, noting Kyiv's stocks of such interceptors were critically low.
Ukrainian officials have said that in the period prior to the envoys' visits Russia had intensified air raids on Kyiv and nearby areas, shifting from predominantly nighttime operations to near-round-the-clock strikes. Those assaults used faster, jet-propelled drones which Ukrainian authorities said killed residents and caused widespread disruption.
Russia's defence ministry said its forces targeted military and logistics sites in Kyiv and surrounding areas, and also struck the Black Sea port of Chornomorsk, according to Russian newswires.
Amid the explosions in Kyiv, Poland - a NATO and European Union member - carried out preventive air operations against potential Russian missile attacks on Ukraine, the Polish army reported. The military activity prompted a temporary suspension of flights at Lublin airport.
Separately, Ukrainian drones reportedly caused damage to civilian infrastructure and injuries in the Russian Volga river city of Saratov, some 730 km southeast of Moscow, the regional governor said. The area includes a large oil refinery operated by state oil company Rosneft, alongside other industrial and military facilities.
Analysis notes
- Casualties and physical damage in Kyiv included both residential and public structures, increasing pressure on municipal services and emergency responders.
- Requests from Ukrainian officials for additional ballistic missile interceptors underscore constraints in air-defence inventory.
- Preventive military actions by neighbouring Poland and reported damage inside Russia indicate cross-border military activity with implications for regional security and transport operations.
The situation remains fluid, with Ukrainian and Russian statements describing different sets of targets and effects. Local officials in Kyiv have focused on the immediate humanitarian and infrastructure impacts of the strikes, while Russian statements emphasise strikes on military and logistics sites.