Russia Strikes Kyiv Following Departure of US Envoys

Russia launched a fresh wave of aerial strikes against the Ukrainian capital on Tuesday, ending a three-day pause in attacks following a visit by United States peace envoys. The bombardment caused multiple deaths and widespread damage across Kyiv, while retaliatory strikes were reported inside Russian territory.

The offensive coincided with the conclusion of diplomatic talks involving US President Donald Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who visited both capitals over the weekend. The meetings ended without any public agreement on halting the war, which has lasted for more than four years.

Kyiv Casualties and Infrastructure Damage

At least five people were killed and 30 others sustained injuries during the attacks on Kyiv, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. City authorities reported physical damage across five central and regional districts: Darnytskyi, Holosiivskyi, Podilskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, and Solomianskyi. Emergency services noted that drone strikes also damaged buildings in the surrounding Boryspil and Fastiv districts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a Russian drone partially destroyed a television channel facility in the capital. Ukraine’s air force reported that air defenses successfully intercepted 142 drones, 31 out of 32 cruise missiles, and two ballistic missiles fired by Russian forces. The total number of ballistic missiles launched during the assault was not disclosed.

Diplomatic Talks and Political Reactions

Ukrainian officials condemned the timing of the bombardment. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the strikes immediately after the US delegation departed, writing on social media that “his ballistic missiles speak louder than his words on diplomacy.”

Following the attacks, Trump held a telephone conversation with Putin on Tuesday. According to Kremlin spokesperson Yury Ushakov, Trump reiterated his goal of reaching a rapid end to the conflict to allow for the restoration of US-Russia relations. Ushakov stated that both leaders viewed the weekend visits by Witkoff and Kushner positively, and that Putin outlined steps the US could take to help resolve the war.

Cross-Border Ukrainian Drone Attacks

Retaliatory and cross-border drone strikes were also reported within Russia and Russian-controlled territories. Roman Busargin, governor of Russia’s Saratov region—located nearly 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) from Moscow—said Ukrainian drones hit civilian infrastructure in Saratov, injuring several residents.

In Russian-annexed Crimea, Moscow-appointed Governor Sergei Aksyonov reported at least two deaths and one injury resulting from a Ukrainian attack. Local Russian officials also reported individual fatalities from drone strikes in the village of Kalinovka in the Kursk region and in the town of Starodub in the Bryansk region. Ukrainian officials made no immediate public comment on the strikes inside Russia or Crimea.

Background

The aerial assault ended a temporary three-day quiet period in capital strikes that had been observed during the visit of US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv. The diplomatic effort represents an attempt by the US administration under President Donald Trump to mediate a resolution to the conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.